The No. 2 player in the world, Aryna Sabalenka, has a chance to leave New York City as No. 1.
After failing to take it from Iga Swiatek on more than one occasion this year, but having reached the US Open semifinals for the past two years, will New York be the place she finally snaps the Pole's streak of 70-plus weeks at the top?
Hard to say. She would have to outlast Swiatek in the draw and, if they meet, Sabalenka would have to beat the defending US Open champion the women’s final on Sept. 9.
If Sabalenka feels any pressure, however, she didn’t show it on Friday.
Perhaps it helped that the first question from the press at the US Open's media day wasn’t about winning the 2023 Australian Open (her first major title), or her semifinal run at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, the last tune-up before this year’s final Slam.
Rather, she was asked about bartending in Cincinnati with American Taylor Fritz (a promotion for Maestro Dobel, the official tequila of the US Open).
“It was really a lot of fun,” Sabalenka said, laughing. “I got the skills how to make a margarita. If anyone wants one margarita, I can make it for you!”
When the subject turned to tennis, Sabalenka revealed a few other things she’s learned in the past year.
A few tough three-set matches have recently taught her to “keep fighting no matter what, just keep working.”
And after two frustrating losses in the semifinals at the past two majors of 2023 (Roland Garros and Wimbledon)–as well as the 2022 US Open, where she won the opening set against Swiatek–the reigning Australian Open champion said, “I definitely needed some time off to forget about tennis for a while. A few days, at least.
“I learned [that in] all these matches, you’re not losing them, you’re learning to become stronger. In the future, these tough losses will help me to win some great matches.
“That’s why I have this short memory. Okay, I lost, the lesson is learned, time to move on. I know this match will help me in the future.”
As for the ranking? She doesn’t think about her status during the tournament, and certainly not during her matches.
“I know I had–and I probably have–opportunity to become world No. 1,” she said, “but there is still of lot of job to be done. I’m trying to shift my focus more on myself, my game, on improving myself.”
And despite an increased number of matches Sabalenka has played, and won, this year, she feels ready for the challenge.
“I feel really strong physically and mentally," because of it, she said, “even stronger than before.”
So watch out.
“Physically, mentally I feel ready. I feel motivated,” she said.
Sabalenka will open her 2023 US Open against Maryna Zanevska of Belgium on Tuesday in the first round.
