Aryna Sabalenka is closing in on her best-ever winning streak of the Tour after sealing her place in the fourth round of the China Open.
The world No.2 dropped only four games during her 6-2, 6-2, win over America’s Ashlyn Krueger on Monday. She has now recorded 14 consecutive victories on the Tour and is one away from equalling her career-best run. Out of those 14 matches, she has only dropped one set which was against Ekaterina Alexandrova in the third round of the US Open. Overall, she has won 48 matches so far in 2024 which is the second-highest on the WTA Tour after world No.1 Iga Swiatek who is currently on 57.
As for the reason for Sabalenka’s consistency in recent weeks, she puts it down to her mindset during matches and not the level of tennis she is producing. Although she has hit an incredible 800 winners at WTA 1000 events so far this year, according to OptaAce.
“Maybe right now I’m not playing my best, best tennis. But I think the way I’m controlling my emotions and the way I’m holding myself sometimes is really helping me to stay in most of the matches, in those difficult situations to keep fighting and keep playing my best tennis.” Sabalenka told reporters after beating Krueger.
“I think control over my emotions, that’s the key.”
Elaborating further, the world No.2 says improvements made to her game have increased her confidence on the court, as well as personal experience. She has been coached by Anton Dubrov since 2020, who was also her hitting partner before that. Sabalenka has won six WTA titles since the start of 2023, including three Grand Slams.
“I improved so many things which gives me more confidence that I can win the match no matter what,” she said.
” Probably this is what gives me that belief and that calmness on court that no matter what, I’ll be able to fight and I’ll be able to find my way in this match.
“In the past, I had a lot of difficult things to face. After you face certain things, you realize it’s just sport. Okay, if you’re not going to win this match, what happens? Nobody going to die. You’re not going to die. It’s okay. You’re going to go to another tournament and you’re going to try your best in the next one.
“Before it felt like if I was not going to win this match, something bad was going to happen. I’m going to die, whatever. But these kinds of thoughts create all of that pressure, all of that frustration, all of that crazy stuff.
Nowadays I’m just working hard, I’m trying to improve myself every day. Every time I’m on the court, I’m trying to give my best. If you give your best, you didn’t win the match, okay. You learn and you try better next time.”
Sabalenka will next play Madison Keys in Beijing. She is seeking to win her third title in a row after Cincinnati and the US Open.
