New York – After a year full of ups and downs, tennis player Aryna Sabalenka managed to redeem herself at the US Open, defending her title with a resounding victory over Amanda Anisimova.
A Path Full of Challenges
After losing in the Australian Open and Roland Garros finals, Sabalenka arrived in New York with the firm intention of defending her title. The pressure was high, especially after the emotional reactions in the previous defeats.
In the Roland Garros final, Sabalenka couldn’t hide her frustration, a moment that went viral for the wrong reasons. After the defeat, Sabalenka and her team focused on finding a way to win even when conditions weren’t ideal.
Sabalenka’s performance coach, Jason Stacy, revealed that the tennis player began reading a motivational book called “Into the Magic Shop” after Roland Garros, considering it a “fairy tale.” In New York, Sabalenka wrote her own fairy tale ending.Aryna Sabalenka defendió su título del US Open el sábado, derrotando a Amanda Anisimova.In the US Open final, Sabalenka faced Anisimova, in a match she dominated with scores of 6-3, 7-6 (3) in 94 minutes. The victory came after a tiebreak, where Sabalenka demonstrated her composure.
By securing the title, Sabalenka became the first woman to repeat as champion since Serena Williams, over a decade ago. The emotion of the victory was palpable, leaving behind months of challenges and defeats.
“Those two finals where I lost control of my emotions, I didn’t want that to happen again. There were moments when I was about to let it go, but I told myself: ‘Come on, you can’t do that. You just have to stay focused and keep going, keep trying’. And that really helped me.”
Aryna Sabalenka
Sabalenka perdió en las finales del Abierto de Australia y del Abierto de Francia este año.The Belarusian tennis player, who has proven to be one of the most consistent players on the circuit, has held the number 1 ranking since October. Her dedication and ambition have taken her to the top, but also to great pressure.
Sabalenka, with the help of her team, including former doubles number 1 Max Mirnyi, learned to adjust her game and handle the pressure in crucial moments. Billie Jean King’s phrase, “Pressure is a privilege, champions adapt,” resonated in Sabalenka’s mind.
The victory at the US Open was a celebration of her resilience and determination. Sabalenka took her time to celebrate with her team and the fans, sharing her joy and gratitude.
The tennis player, at the end of the television interview, stated that she would go to celebrate with some drinks, because “you have to enjoy it” after so much hard work. Sabalenka, with a radiant smile, showed that the hard defeats of the past made this triumph even sweeter.
