On Monday, Aryna Sabalenka marked her rise to the top of women’s tennis by securing a spot in the US Open quarter-finals with a convincing straight-sets victory over Russian player Daria Kasatkina.
Sabalenka, assured of claiming the world number one ranking next week after Iga Swiatek’s fourth-round defeat on Sunday, smoothly advanced to the quarter-finals with a 6-1, 6-3 triumph over the 13th seed.
On Wednesday, Sabalenka will face off against China’s Zheng Qinwen, vying for a spot in the semi-finals.
Sabalenka, who lost in the semi-finals of last year’s US Open, is targeting her second Grand Slam title of the season after winning the Australian Open in January.
Following her victory, the 25-year-old from Minsk expressed her joy at securing the No. 1 ranking. However, she candidly admitted that she would have preferred to defeat Swiatek in the final in New York.
Sabalenka spoke openly about her expectations, saying, “I had complete confidence that she would reach the final, and I truly wanted to engage in a fierce battle with her to settle everything on the court,” referring to the outgoing No.1, Swiatek.
“I felt sadness for her loss, but this achievement means a great deal to me. Throughout this year, I’ve pushed myself relentlessly to attain this goal. It’s truly unbelievable, almost surreal; I still find it hard to grasp,” Sabalenka commented on her emotions regarding becoming the world No. 1.
