Billie Jean King once said pressure is a privilege but for two players on the women’s Tour, they are playing down the expectations they face.
Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff both enjoyed breakout seasons in 2023. Sabalenka claimed her maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, reached the semi-finals or better at the three other major events and rose to world No.1 for the first time in her career. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Gauff captured her maiden WTA 1000 trophy in Cincinnati before going on to win the biggest title of her career so far at the US Open. Becoming the youngest American woman to win a Grand Slam since Serena Williams.
All eyes will be on these two players heading into the Australian Open where Sabalenka will be bidding to win back-to-back titles in Melbourne. Something that hasn’t been achieved by a female player at the event since Victoria Azarenka over a decade ago. Although the Belarussian is keen to play down the hype.
“I accepted the fact that I can lose, that everyone can go there and beat me if I’m not bringing my best tennis. Accepting this fact gives you more belief,” Sabalenka told reporters on Sunday.
“You’re more calm on the court in those crucial moments. I think that’s why I’m not putting myself under pressure. Worst case, what happens? I’m going to lose a Grand Slam, lose some points, drop a little bit in the rankings?
“There are so many tournaments ahead. I’m going to try to do my best to be in another Grand Slam or other tournaments. That’s why I like my mindset, you can beat me. But I’m going to prepare every match and have huge chances to win.”
Sabalenka’s mindset is similar to that of Gauff who believes her shock first round exit at Wimbledon helped pave the way for her US Open breakthrough. After that event, she won 24 out of her next 28 matches played.
“After Wimbledon I reached the lowest point of my career, losing that match,” Gauff said.
“Learning from it helped me push forward and I think sometimes you need those setbacks to push you forward.
“Not to wake me up, because I felt like I always was awake, but realise that maybe you should put less pressure on every single match.”
As for the Australian Open, the American is eager to add to her Grand Slam tally.
“I’m always going to put pressure on myself. I want to strive for more and I don’t want to only win one,” Gauff said.
Both players will be in action during the first week of January but at different tournaments. Sabalenka is paying in Brisbane where she faces either Lucia Bronzetti or Ashlyn Krueger in her opening match. Meanwhile, Gauff headlines the ASB Classic in Aukland with her first match being against Claire Liu.
These two tournaments are key warm-up events for the Australian Open which will begin on January 14th.
