- Sabalenka remains composed of the entire clash against Anisimova.
- He says his mentality was going to leave, fight for each point. “
- He says he deserved to have the Grand Slam title this season.
New York: The champion of the United States Open, Aryna Sabalenka, can be nicknamed “The Tiger”, but her triumph of New York on Saturday was less about raw aggression and more balance, since the number one in the world stabilized and regrouped in key moments to claim a fourth Grand Slam title.
Determined to become the first woman since the great American Serena Williams (2012–14) defend his crown in Flushing Meadows, the Belarusian brought the weight of the recent setbacks to claim a 6-3 7-6 (3) victory over Amanda Anisimova in the final and retain his crown.
After the final defeats in Melbourne and Paris, and a setback of Wimbledon's semifinal against Anisimova, Sabalenka turned all that disappointment into fuel, winning the right to present himself to his press conference in party mode, Goggles perched on the head and a bottle of champagne in his hand.
“After Australia's open, I thought the correct way would only be forgotten and move on, but then the same thing happened in the open of France. So I thought that, it is fine, maybe it's time for me to feel and look at those finals and maybe learn something,” said a ecstatic Sabalenka to journalists.
“Upon entering this final, I decided on myself that I am going to control my emotions. I will not let them take control over me, and no matter what happens in the game.
“My mentality was coming out, fighting for every point. It doesn't matter the situation. Just grant yourself in myself and focus on things I have to do to win the game.”
The occasion seemed mature for Sabalenka to fall apart under the roar of a partisan crowd by Arthur Ashe encouraging her American opponent, but the 27 -year -old showed that she was equipped to prevail in the most difficult times.
Sabalenka was serving the game when he gave Anisimova a break with fluid crushing in what seemed like a fundamental impulse change. However, the best seed was not lost when it mattered, winning a record straight.
“There were times when I was very close to losing control, but I said: 'No, it won't happen. It's absolutely well,” said Sabalenka.
“I was very close to losing it, because you cannot make this type of mistake at important points. Sometimes it can be crucial for my experience.
“But then I turn around and breathed deeply, and I was, as, okay, it happens. It's in the past. Let's focus on the next.”
Sabalenka added that his milestone in the 100 ° Grand Slam lives with extra weight due to the path that was needed to get there.
“You know, he felt that he had to overcome many things to get this,” he said. “I knew that the hard work we put, as, deserved to have a Grand Slam title this season.
“It means a lot to defend this title and bring such a great tennis on the court. Bring the fight and be able to handle my emotions as I did in this final, it means a lot. I am very proud at this time of myself.”
