Unbelievable: Aryna Sabalenka Raring to Go in Washington After Injury-Related Break Due to…
The two-time Australian Open champion will return to the Tour this week for the first time in a month after being sidelined from action due to a shoulder problem. Before suffering her injury, Sabalenka had enjoyed a positive clay swing where she reached the finals in both Madrid and Rome. However, at the French Open, she suffered a shock quarter-final loss to Mirra Adreeva during a match where she was also hindered by physical issues unrelated to her shoulder.
Missing a major event is never easy for a player but in Sabalenka’s case, it enabled her to take a longer break from the sport and recharge her batteries ahead of the Citi Open in Washington. An event she is playing for the first time since 2017.
“I think it was very important for me to take a little break. I had really tough, tough struggles starting from March. It didn’t stop.” Sabalenka told reporters in Washington.
“I feel more fresh and more ready to go.”
It could be argued that the world No.3 is more prepared for the North American hardcourt swing compared to her peers who are currently playing on clay at the Paris Olympics. The US Open will get underway at the end of August which doesn’t give a lot of time for those in Paris to get ready.
However, Sabalenka plays down the significance of her decision to not play in Paris.
“I definitely feel like being in Paris right now, it’s a lot of responsibility and it’s a lot of pressure,” She said.
“It’s still way to go to the US Open. I feel like they (those playing in Paris) are going to be ready. Probably they’ll just, I don’t know, take a break.
“That’s why they’re on top of the rankings because they were able to switch off and be ready for the important tournaments.”
Sabalenka will be hoping to replicate her success in America from last season when she reached the semi-finals of Cincinnati and was then runner-up to Coco Gauff in Flushing Meadows. She has no specific goal with the emphasis being on improving herself.
“The goal is just to become a better player. After each tough loss, learn something and improve it.” She concluded.
Sabalenka is the top seed at the Citi Open. Granted a bye in the first round, her opening match will be against either Kamilla Rakhimova or Katie Volynets.
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Aryna Sabalenka will come back at the DC Open
The Belarusian will lead the women’s singles seeding, Andrey Rublev will lead the men’s singles seeding
Andrey Rublev and Aryna Sabalenka lead the draws of the combined Mubadala Citi DC Open tournament in Washington, which is played on American hard courts in the exact same week as the Olympic tournament in Paris. This is the second stage on North American hard courts after Atlanta, which will get closer to the US Open series that will lead to the New York Major in Flushing Meadows, the fourth and final round of the Grand Slam of the year.
Aryna Sabalenka leads the women’s draw, as I said. The Australian Open winner and Victoria Azarenka are included in the first quarter of the draw and will be potential opponents in the quarterfinals. In the upper part of the draw there is also Ons Jabeur. Also present in Washington is Emma Raducanu who will challenge Elise Mertens in one of the most interesting first rounds. Another interesting first round is between Paula Badosa and Sofia Kenin. The other main seeds present in the lower part of the draw are Samsonova and Daria Kasatkina.
In the ATP tournament of the 500 category, after the elimination in the semifinals in Umag, Andrey Rublev flew to Washington and is the number 1 seed. He awaits the winner of the French derby between Cazaux and Van Assche in the second round. Fifth seed, therefore in Rublev’s quarter, is Frances Tiafoe. The second quarter of the draw sees Sebastian Korda and Jordan Thompson as top seeds.
Luca Nardi plays in the first round against a player coming from the qualifications, in case of success second round against the number 8 seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. In the same section of the draw there is Flavio Cobolli who is the number 10 seed who has a bye in the first round and awaits the winner of the challenge between the Belgian David Goffin and the Argentine Carabelli. The other seed of this area of the draw is Karen Khachanov. The last quarter has as top seeds Adrian Mannarino and Ben Shelton.
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— News Aryna Sabalenka (@Sabanewsss) July 26, 2024
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