Aryna Sabalenka believes having the right balance in life is key to her success at the Grand Slam events after moving into the last eight of the US Open.
The top seed eased her way past Spain’s Cristina Bucsa 6-1, 6-4 in less than 80 minutes without facing a break point. Sabalenka has now reached the last eight of every major event within the same season whilst also being ranked No.1 in the world. A milestone that has only been matched by Martina Hingis (2000), Lindsay Davenport (2005) and Serena Williams (2015-16) since 2000.
Overall, the Belarusian has reached the quarter-finals or better at the last 12 Grand Slam events she has played. As for what the secret is to her consistency at the big events, Sabalenka says she has managed to find the right balance between life inside and outside of tennis.
“I’m super proud, I think that’s an incredible achievement,” Sabalenka said. “I think for me the key was balancing on and off-the-court life. I think I’ve done a great job on balancing really hard work and also great recovery and some fun time outside of tennis court. I think that’s been the key.
“I feel like I’m really enjoying my life. I think that’s the main thing,” she added.
Sabalenka is yet to drop a set in the tournament, but was pushed to a tiebreak in two of her matches against Leylah Fernandez and Paula Kudermetova. She has already won two WTA 1000 titles this year, as well as a WTA 500. Jessica Pegula is the only other player on the WTA Tour to have won three titles since January.
“I’m enjoying being World No. 1. I’m enjoying this pressure,” she said.
“I’m working really hard to be where I am. I think for me it’s important to focus on my game and on bringing, try to bring my best tennis and just to fight.”
Later this week, Sabalenka will take on a resurgent Marketa Vondrousova, who stunned an in-form Elena Rybakina 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, in her fourth round match. The Czech has also knocked seventh seed Jasmine Paolini out of the tournament. She is the first unseeded player to beat multiple Top 10 players en route to a Grand Slam quarterfinal since Garbiñe Muguruza at the 2020 Australian Open.
“After everything I’ve been through, it’s amazing to be standing here again,” said Vondrousova, who has been troubled by shoulder and wrist issues in recent years. “It’s been an amazing week so far, and I’m just incredibly happy to be here. I have a great team here and great people around me, and we are having so much fun off the court as well.”
Sabalenka leads Vdrousova 5-3 in their head-to-head and won their most recent meeting at the Cincinnati Open 7-5, 6-1.
