*** US Open champion Sabalenka chases year-end number one ranking | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

US Open champion Sabalenka chases year-end number one ranking

AFP | London

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

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Aryna Sabalenka expressed her desire to reclaim the world No. 1 ranking as she prepares for the China Open this week. Currently ranked No. 2, Sabalenka enters the tournament as the top seed following Iga Swiatek's withdrawal due to personal reasons.

Fresh off her US Open victory, Sabalenka is focused on closing the gap at the top of the rankings. “One of my goals is to finish the season as world No. 1,” said the Belarusian, who also clinched the Australian Open title earlier this year.

At 26, Sabalenka acknowledges the challenge ahead. “I’m not trying to focus too much on that, but more on my game,” she stated. With only three tournaments left in the season, she’s determined to bring her best performance on court. “After the season, I’ll evaluate if it was enough to finish at No. 1, or if there’s something I need to improve.”

Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, first achieved the No. 1 ranking last year before being overtaken by Swiatek. “To be called the best player in the world means everything. It shows that all those hours of training weren’t wasted,” she added.