Aryna Sabalenka says she feels “fresh” as she prepares for her first tournament since losing the world No. 1 ranking ahead of the China Open. The Belarusian player, a four-time Grand Slam champion, made the comments after her recent run of results and as she returns to competition following a period with fewer matches.
Both outlets link her outlook to the timing of the ranking change. Sabalenka previously spent 99 weeks as the world’s top-ranked player before ceding the spot to Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina, who also beat her in the US Open final earlier in the month. In addition, coverage notes that Sabalenka has not won a title since March and that this year may mark a first since 2022 in which she ends without a major. While the outlets focus on different surrounding details—such as the broader season context versus preparation conditions—they agree on the core point: Sabalenka attributes her refreshed feeling to playing fewer matches.
