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Navigating Terra Incognita
Aryna Sabalenka has done the impossible: She has flown under the radar even though she will soon be top-ranked player in the world.
And after she cruised into the semifinals with a dominant 6-1, 6-4 rout of Zheng Qinwen on Wednesday, she’s hoping to add the title of U.S. Open champ.
“I just gave myself another opportunity to do better in the semis,” Sabalenka said on court after her win. “Of course I’m happy [to be world No. 1] and it’s really important for me and my family; but I still have some things to do in New York. I’m trying to focus on my game and will think about being world No. 1 after the U.S. Open.”
While the attention has been on others like Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek — whose top spot Sabalenka will seize next week — Sabalenka has ground out win after win in machinelike fashion.
“I have to fight for it. I know if I’ll be there, if I’ll be fighting for my dream, I know I can get it,” Sabalenka said. “After really tough last season, I just keep reminding myself that I’ve been through really tough situation, and I can handle anything.
“That really helps me to stay strong and to motivate me.”
After Sabalenka’s serve went haywire earlier this year, she brought in a biometrics expert to solve the issue.
“I had a couple of really tough losses this year. But we’re not losing; we’re learning,” Sabalenka said. “I have really strong belief that all those tough matches that I lost will help me in the future in other tough battles.”
That fight is fitting for the Woman with the Tiger Tattoo.
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The tattoo on her left forearm refers to not just her 1998 birth year, which was the year of the Earth Tiger in the Chinese zodiac, but also her toughness.
This week, performance coach Jason Stacy warned, “be careful when you put a predator in a corner” in reference to her becoming No. 1 and going from hunter to hunted.
“Jason is just coming from the, how to say, he’s a fighter, jujitsu, and they really like to talk a lot,” Sabalenka said, laughing.
“People will try to chase me and get me, but it’s just an extra motivation for me. Seeing them really trying their best to beat me, it’s an extra power and energy for me to keep playing, keep pushing, keep getting better.”
Sabalenka became the only active woman to reach the semis at all four majors in one year since Serena Williams in 2016.
After losing in the semis at the last two U.S. Opens, Sabalenka hasn’t dropped a set this year and has lost 21 games total through five matches.
“I’m going to do everything I can to stay until the end,” said Sabalenka, who hit 17 winners and never faced a break point.
Next up on Thursday will be the winner of the match later Wednesday between No. 17 American Madison Keys, the 2017 U.S. Open runner-up, or Marketa Vondrousova.
