Breaking News: Aryna Sabalenka Breaks Silence on ‘Tough’ Wimbledon Choice and Its Effects Before Washington Comeback is…
Aryna Sabalenka has admitted it was a “very tough decision” to withdraw from Wimbledon as the world No 3 gears up for a return to action in Nottingham.
Former world No 1 and two-time Australian Open champion Sabalenka was the bookmaker’s favourite to triumph at SW19 but pulled out of the tournament on the opening day due to a shoulder injury.
That snapped a run of seven straight Grand Slam quarter-final appearances for the Belarusian, who had reached the last four of Wimbledon in 2023 – and also back in 2021.
After taking time to rehab and recuperate the injury after missing the third major of the season, Sabalenka is back in action this week, at the WTA 500 event in Washington D.C.
She is the top seed in the women’s draw and is the favourite for the title, but speaking ahead of the event admitted she wanted to build “confidence” after not playing since the Berlin Open in mid-June.
She said: “That was a very tough decision because I never pull out from the tournament because of the injury.
“Even if I was injured, I was still playing. I was still struggling, but being able to play. It was my first experience like that.
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“But I decided to take care of my health, to do a proper rehab, get back stronger. So the recovery was very tough one because for two weeks I was doing rehab, like a lot of exercises, a lot of treatments, a lot of recovery stuff.
“I’m here because I got injured and I haven’t played for a while. I felt like I need to build my confidence back and build my level back before going to the US Open.
“I need to play some matches and that’s why I’m here.”
Sabalenka is one of several players who have chosen to play in D.C. and prioritise the hard-court summer, rather than play at the Olympic Games in Paris.
The Belarusian is the only player in the WTA’s top five to have skipped clay-court action at Roland Garros, and some have suggested she may have an advantage when it comes to the US Open at the end of August – due to spending extra time on hard courts.
But Sabalenka shut down such suggestions, insisting that all her chief rivals – notably Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff – would be ready for the final Grand Slam of 2024.
“It’s still a way to go to the US Open. I feel like they going to be ready, Probably they’ll just take a break.” added the world No 3.
“At the end it was very important for me to take a little break. I had really tough struggles starting from March. It was much needed. Mentally, I feel more fresh and more ready to go. I’ll be ready.”
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