SCRATCHING SURFACE Aryna eyes clay, grass slams
Aryna Sabalenka is targeting breakthrough grand slam success on clay and grass this year, declaring her Australian Open victory would deliver her a major “boost of energy” after defending her crown at Melbourne Park.
Defying the pressure of returning to Melbourne as the defending champion, the No.2 seed soaked up her second Australian Open victory with her trophy on Sunday after a night of celebrations with her “craziest team”.
In a powerful display, Sabalenka dispatched China’s Zheng Qinwen in straight sets on Rod Laver Arena on Saturday night to claim her second career grand slam title.
Sabalenka became the first player since her countrywoman Victoria Azarenka in 2012-13 to defend the women’s Australian Open crown.
The big-hitting Belarusian said the victory, which came off the back of a US Open final loss to Coco Gauff last September, would fuel her campaign for the rest of 2024.
“It’s definitely something incredible and it definitely gives me much more belief that I can do well in the grand slams,” Sabalenka said as she posed with her trophy on Sunday.
“It’s given me this boost of energy for the rest of the season. I’m just happy that everything we’ve been working on in the pre-season, it’s working well and we’re just going to keep building it and keep getting better.”
Sabalenka now has two grand slam titles from three finals, all on hard courts, but is confident she can achieve the same results on clay and grass at the other majors.
The 25-year-old lost in the semi-finals at the French Open and Wimbledon last year.
“I think last year I proved that I can play on each surface,” Sabalenka said.
“Those two semi-finals (French and Wimbledon) I got super emotional. I lost, not like my matches. I played against incredible players, and they just played unbelievable level, but I felt like I got super emotional and I just let those semis go away. But I definitely think that if I’m going to keep working like I’m working right now, and if we’re going to keep building what we are building right now, I’m definitely able to do the same on the clay and on the grass.
“I’ll just keep working hard and hopefully this year I’ll achieve the same goal on the clay or on the grass.”
Sabalenka admitted returning to Melbourne as the defending champion had brought with it added pressure, but she credited a changed approach to her game for helping her handle the expectations.
“Definitely this couple of weeks brought a bit of pressure for me,” Sabalenka said.
“But since last year, I kind of changed my mentality and my approach to tennis.
“We are having so much fun off the court and I am just trying to work hard when I’m on the court, but off the court try to forget tennis life and stay away from it.
“Then as soon as I am on the court, I am full-on. It’s been challenging, but I am super happy that I am able to focus on myself and my game and on things that I have to do to win the match.
“I think after that match point, I felt relieved and it’s time to breathe normal and take a step back and just understand what just happened.”
Poland’s Iga Swiatek will retain the world No.1 ranking, even after her main rival claimed the opening grand slam of the season.
Sabalenka said she had been determined to prove her Australian Open success had not just been a one-off.
“It’s been in my mind that I didn’t want to be that player who won it and then disappeared,” Sabalenka said.
“I just wanted to show that I’m able to be consistently there and I’m able to win another one.
“I really hope (for) more.”