Sabalenka Plugs into Pleasure Precept

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, May 28, 2024

Sightlines on Roland Garros grounds have not modified.

Aryna Sabalenka says she’s bringing a unique perspective to this French Open.

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World No. 2 Sabalenka swept Erika Andreeva 6-1, 6-2 to cost into the Roland Garros second spherical.

Launching her quest to develop into the primary lady since Serena Williams in 2015 to seize the Australian Open and French Open in succession, Sabalenka commanded the middle of the courtroom changing 5 of six break factors in a 68-minute thrashing.

Afterward, Sabalenka mentioned she sees Paris because the City of Lighten Up.

Asserting she performs her greatest when she’s relaxed, the emotive Sabalenka goals to plug into the facility of positivity a yr after her run to the Roland Garros semifinals.

“I think it’s all comes with experience,” Sabalenka mentioned. “First times when I was coming here, I was so tight, I was so intense because it’s a Grand Slam, and with the years you realize this is just another tournament and you have to have fun.

“You must be constructive, as a result of it is sufficient pressure on courtroom. If you are gonna carry this pressure off courtroom, it is simply an excessive amount of.

“So for me, it’s the better way to kind of like loosen up and to keep it, I don’t know, mentally good, it’s just to have fun, of course.”

Winning is pure pleasure and Sabalenka has had loads of completely happy days—in addition to private tragedy, struggling the demise of her ex-boyfriend in Miami in March—in an eventful yr.

Still, Sabalenka brings her greatest within the Slams.

The two-time Australian Open champion has contested semifinals or higher in her final six Grand Slam appearances.

Today, Sabalenka improved her clay-court report to 12-3 this season along with her solely losses coming in opposition to world No. 1 Iga Swiatek within the finals at Rome and Madrid and in opposition to Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova within the Stuttgart quarterfinal.

After falling to Swiatek in Rome, Sabalenka mentioned on courtroom: “I hope we’re gonna make it to the finals at Roland Garros and I’m gonna get you there.

“Just kidding—just trying to do better than today.”

Asked a couple of potential third straight clay-court last in opposition to three-time Roland Garros champion Swiatek, Sabalenka mentioned she’s not wanting that far forward, however can be prepared for a rematch.

“I have been just joking kind of over there, but if we’re going to get to the point that we have to play each other here, then I was just kidding,” Sabalenka mentioned. “But anyways, it’s a tough battle against her. Like going to the match, you never know how it’s gonna end, you know.

“It’s type of like 50/50. It’s a troublesome problem for me, however as I all the time say, robust challenges, I prefer it. I’m prepared to simply accept that and I’m able to do my greatest to get that win. But, I imply, it’s miles away from at the present time, . I’m simply making an attempt to deal with every recreation. If we get to the purpose, I’ll attempt my greatest.”

Photo credit score: Tim Clayton/Corbis/Getty