Aryna, Veronika set up title clash
FIRSTMAJOR FINAL FOR 23-YEAR- OLD FROM KAZAN
Fourth seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus extended her career- best match- winning streak to 14 and set a showdown with Veronika Kudermetova in the final of the Abu Dhabi WTA Women’s Tennis Open to be played today.
Sabalenka took under an hour to sweep past No. 9 seed Maria Sakkari of Greece 6- 3, 6- 2, while Ku der me tova came in later to wage a fierce battle fora7- 6( 8), 6- 4win against teenager Marta Kostyuk and book her rightful place in the final. “We spoke about how to approach this match with my coach andwe too thought itwas quick out there today. Maybe my serve was working well like yesterday,” Sabalenka explained to media later.
“I don’t know why I am having this winning run. But I do knowthat I have put my focus on the right things and this helps me not to think about all these wins as such. I realise that I just need to to keep focusing on movement on the court and do all the things I can,” she added.
One of the things that has helped her a lot is a self- help book by Mark Manson that she is about to finish. “I have improved my mental aspect and it is fromthat I get my confidence. Focus on the right things has helped me tremendously and I am just enjoying the game,” Sabalenka said.
“This book has shown me that there are more things in life than tennis. I am almost done with the book and it has shown met hat the more important things in life are just trying to improve myself. I really don’t care what anyone thinks about me. I am just doing my job and enjoying myself,” she added.
More consistent
Sabalenka is aware of the task at hand as she tackles Kudermetova in the final yesterday.
“We have been working a lot on the serving game while trying to be more consistent on the returns. Everyone wants towin, and she [ Kudermetova] is also here to win heading into Melbourne. She is moving well and serving great as well. My part will be in staying focused on my game and on each point as that is what I going to help me in the end,” she insisted.
Sabalenka will meet Veronika Kudermetova after the Russian dug deep before winning 7- 6 ( 8), 6- 4 against Ukrainian teenager Marta Kostyuk in the second semi- final.
It was a massive achievement for Kudermetova as the 23- yearold from Kazan reached her first ever WTA singles final.