Aryna Sabalenka experienced an exhaustive depletion of both mental and physical energy throughout the Australian Open 2024, despite securing victory in a tournament she dominated from beginning to end.
In a strategic move to recuperate from the energy depletion during the Melbourne Fortnight, the Belarusian tennis player opted to forgo participation in the Qatar Open, scheduled to take place at the International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha from Sunday, February 11, 2024.
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A choice reminiscent of the one made in 2023. Similarly, in the previous season, after securing her victory in Australia, Sabalenka chose to forego the WTA 1000 tournament in Doha – an event she had previously won in 2020.
Even with the Australian Open champion missing, Doha will witness the presence of numerous tennis stars, with WTA No.1 Iga Swiatek leading the pack. Furthermore, the tournament will feature the participation of Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, and Ons Jabeur.
Sabalenka on handling pressure: “Challenging when emotions come into play.”
Following her inaugural Grand Slam victory on Rod Laver Arena in 2023, the Belarusian experienced tense moments in the semifinals of both the Roland Garros and Wimbledon, as well as the final at the US Open. Aryna, however, made a resilient comeback, securing her second Slam triumph at the 2024 Australian Open without conceding a set throughout the tournament.
Even in the climactic tournament, where tension might have posed a challenge, the 25-year-old from Minsk maintained control over every aspect of the match with remarkable composure.
During the customary photo shoot in Melbourne with the Australian Open trophy, Sabalenka discussed the challenges of managing pressure, particularly when dealing with emotions.
Aryna Sabalenka said,
“I’m thrilled to secure my second Grand Slam victory. I aspire to enhance my tennis skills continually and maintain a winning streak. Personally, I’ve become more open, fostering significant friendships on the Tour, such as the one with Paula Badosa. In the past, I was reserved and hesitant to open up. I can’t overlook the fact that I’m genuinely proud to have taken this step. While I have gained better self-control, it hasn’t been an easy journey.”
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Improving in this aspect is challenging, especially when you’re an emotional person and find yourself getting emotional frequently. Achieving control on the court requires dedicated effort. I appreciate my team; even after a significant victory like this, they immediately focus on how we can enhance our performance. While there’s time to savor the titles won, it’s a matter of striking the right balance.
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