Aryna Sabalenka expresses ideas about the new WTA 1000 format that go against the norm.
The tennis player from Belarus expressed her satisfaction with the WTA 1000 competitions’ new format.
“I know a lot of players whine and would rather play in one-week events, but I think it’s nice to have a day off in between matches because it gives you time to unwind and appreciate things other than tennis.”
More discussions have been sparked by the WTA 1000 tournaments’ extension from one to two weeks, with opposing and supporting factions on both the men’s and women’s circuits. Runner-up from Madrid and Rome, Aryna Sabalenka, also voiced her thoughts on the subject, stating that she was happy with the WTA 1000’s new format. The Belarusian tennis player stated her preference for the new WTA 1000 formula after losing two final matches in a row against Iga Swiatek on European clay courts.
“I used to get fatigued every week of competition, but these two-week competitions help me be more mentally balanced,” she said.
During the post-loss press conference in Rome, Sabalenka also discussed the forthcoming Roland Garros.
“I’m very happy because I adore Roland Garros and Paris. I’m happy because I did well last year. I never think back on the past, even if I lost these two finals. No matter how many times I lose against a player, I can always count on myself to be prepared to fight back. I’m confident that I can perform well when I travel to Paris. Even though I might not be the favorite, I still think I can prevail. I want to go all the way to the championship match and defeat every opponent, be it Iga or another tennis player. It wasn’t the final I had anticipated today. I didn’t play to my full potential. After these two weeks, thoughts are still optimistic, in any case. Being able to fight all the way to the end makes me proud.
Even if things didn’t turn out the way I had hoped, I’m still pleased with the outcome that Rome produced. I attempted to be aggressive in the opening set even though I didn’t feel comfortable. The match might have ended in a different way if I had seized my chances in the second set. Next time, I’ll attempt to perform better. The damage lingers in your memory during the competition while you struggle and attempt to heal. Still, I wouldn’t argue that my back caused me to lose today. Considering everything that has transpired, I believe I’ve done very well here in Rome,” she said.
