Aryna Sabalenka says success is 'something in my blood' after retaining Australian Open title - ‘I’m addicted to wins’
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ByOli Gent
Published 18/02/2024 at 19:18 GMT
Aryna Sabalenka has said that winning is "in her blood" as she prepares to make her return to the WTA Tour at the Dubai Open, where she plays Donna Vekic. Sabalenka, who successfully retained her Australian Open title in January with a straight sets win over Zheng Qinwen in the final, has highlighted a mentality shift that propelled her to her title defence and spurs on her winning mentality.
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Aryna Sabalenka believes that winning is "in her blood” as the Belarusian prepares for the Dubai Open, which started on Sunday.
Sabalenka, playing her first event since a successful defence of her Australian Open title in January, is seeded second, and will play the experienced Donna Vekic in the second round after receiving a bye in the opening stage.
The world No. 2 is 1,395 ranking points behind current world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, who lifted the Qatar Open title in Doha on Saturday, and the Pole is seeded first for the second WTA 1000 event of the 2024 season.
Sabalenka has the fourth seed Elena Rybakina, who was beaten by Swiatek in the Doha final, and eighth seed Maria Sakkari in her half of the draw, and she could also face the seventh seed Marketa Vondrousova, the reigning Wimbledon champion, in the quarter-finals.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Sabalenka admitted that defending her Australian Open crown had its different pressure to the year before, when she claimed her maiden Grand Slam.
"Last year it was the first Slam; [I was] super excited, new feeling,” the Belarusian said.
"This year, as defending champion, it’s also kind of like a new pressure. You just try to separate yourself from that. When you win it, you feel so much relief. It’s easier. ‘Okay, I did it, thank God!’ We’re ready to go for the next one.
"It’s been an amazing time [since winning in Australia]. I was super excited. We celebrated my win – our win - we had so much fun. I’m still emotional about that. I think it’s the best thing you can ever, ever get. But it’s already in the past and I need to focus on the next one.”
Sabalenka, who cruised past debutant finalist Zheng Qinwen 6-3 6-2 at Melbourne Park, highlighted that a shift in mindset was what propelled her to a second successive title win down under.
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"I guess I was always searching for something which can help me to control myself better,” Sabalenka explained.
"After some years working with a psychologist, I just decided to take the responsibility on myself and not wait for somebody to help you fix something.
"At the end the only thing helping me is myself; just stop[ping] expecting people to fix my problems, [and] start fixing my problems by myself. I think that’s brought much more confidence and much more control.”
Sabalenka, a beaten finalist at the US Open last year, demonstrated her winning mentality by asserting that she wanted to push herself to even loftier heights this season, and use her second Grand Slam title as a springboard for even greater achievements.
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“My mindset is to keep doing what I’m doing, keep fighting, keep working,” she said. “After my career, to look back and think, ‘Whoa, I was able to achieve that. That’s crazy’.
“I’m not the type of person who is going to win something and stop. Like I said, I’m addicted to wins. I felt like it’s just something in my blood and I keep doing, keep working, and hopefully keep winning.”
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