Aryna Sabalenka believes there is more to come from her after winning the last big event before the US Open in Cincinnati.
The world No.2 defeated Jessica Pegula 6-3, 7-5, to conclude an impressive week at the tournament where she didn’t didn’t drop a single set. It is the first time she has won a hardcourt WTA 1000 title since Doha 2020. Overall, she has won 15 titles which include two Grand Slam trophies.
“I’m super happy to get this title,” said Sabalenka. “I’ve been trying so many times (to win) in Cincinnati but couldn’t pass the semifinal stage. So I’m really happy to get my first trophy.
“It was a great tournament, great week. I think I played some decent tennis and I’m just super happy.”
Before beating Pegula, Sabalenka also defeated Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals. Making it the first time this year she has beaten multiple top 10 players at the same event. She has also beaten 10th seed Liudmila Samsonova, Elina Svitolina and Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
The surge in form comes ahead of the US Open, which will get underway on Monday. Sabalenka has produced a strong record at Flushing Meadows in recent years, finishing runner-up to Coco Gauff in 2023 and reaching the semi-final stage in 2021 and 2022. However, the 26-year-old believes she has yet to play her best tennis on the Tour.
“I’m playing great tennis, probably not like the best tennis I can play, but I’m definitely getting there.” She said.
“With every match I play, I feel better, better and better and hopefully at the US Open, I can keep building the level, and I can reach maybe an even higher level than I used to play.”
It isn’t just her physicality that Sabalenka believes she can improve further, it is her mental game too. Something she aims to do with the help of her team and the experience gained from playing at previous Grand Slam events.
“I have to build, not like confidence, but build belief and calmness. That’s really helped me two years ago to get my first Grand Slam title.” She explained.
“I have to, kind of like, have this belief that I’ll be able to turn around the much no matter what the situation is.”
Sabalenka enters the final major of the season with a win-loss record of 5-4 against top 10 players since the start of January.
