NEW DELHI: Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka battled previous Barbora Krejcikova to go into the Indian Wells quarter-finals.
Czech Krejcikova was once the lady who ended Sabalenka’s absolute best 2023 run with a victory over the Belarusian within the quarter-finals at Dubai closing month.
She had a possibility to increase the fit, however Sabalenka stored a destroy level within the last recreation and closed it out.
“It’s always tough matches against Barbora,” Sabalenka mentioned. “She played unbelievable Tennis, I’m just super happy with this win.”
There’s been no let-down for the 24-year-old since she claimed her first Grand Slam name in Melbourne.
She admitted she was once somewhat shocked by means of all of the hoopla that attended the victory — corresponding to a photograph shoot with the trophy on a gondola in Melbourne — however determined to only cross with it.
“I felt really weird,” she mentioned. “It was just like so much attention to me (but) I was thinking ‘OK, I won my first Grand Slam, let’s just take it all in.'”
She has now reached two quarter-finals since then, and mentioned no longer successful a big till she was once 24 could have helped her stay her ft at the flooring.
“I’m really glad that I won my first Grand Slam at this age, because I felt like if I would be 18 years old to win the Grand Slam, then I would be struggling for years,” she mentioned.
“I understand that, yeah, that’s happened, and that was my dream. It was an amazing moment but time to move on. It wasn’t the only one goal.”
World quantity two Sabalenka has made no secret of the truth that she’d love to overtake Iga Swiatek atop the sector ratings.
Swiatek, winner of the French and US Opens closing yr, is secure on the summit via Indian Wells and the Miami Open that follows, however Sabalenka is hoping to stay the drive on by means of successful.
“I have this understanding that no matter what, I have to keep going, keep fighting,” she mentioned.
She’ll struggle for a semi-final berth in opposition to sixth-seeded American Coco Gauff, who rallied within the 3rd set for a 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 victory over Swedish qualifier Rebecca Peterson.
“Playing-wise, obviously, there are a lot of things I can improve on for the next match,” mentioned Gauff, who grew to become 19 on Monday. “Considering the circumstances I’m happy to be done with today.”
Whatever Gauff’s struggles on Tuesday, Sabalenka mentioned she would not be taking {the teenager} flippantly.
Gauff has gained 3 in their 4 encounters, maximum lately at Toronto closing yr.
(With inputs from AFP)
Czech Krejcikova was once the lady who ended Sabalenka’s absolute best 2023 run with a victory over the Belarusian within the quarter-finals at Dubai closing month.
She had a possibility to increase the fit, however Sabalenka stored a destroy level within the last recreation and closed it out.
“It’s always tough matches against Barbora,” Sabalenka mentioned. “She played unbelievable Tennis, I’m just super happy with this win.”
There’s been no let-down for the 24-year-old since she claimed her first Grand Slam name in Melbourne.
She admitted she was once somewhat shocked by means of all of the hoopla that attended the victory — corresponding to a photograph shoot with the trophy on a gondola in Melbourne — however determined to only cross with it.
“I felt really weird,” she mentioned. “It was just like so much attention to me (but) I was thinking ‘OK, I won my first Grand Slam, let’s just take it all in.'”
She has now reached two quarter-finals since then, and mentioned no longer successful a big till she was once 24 could have helped her stay her ft at the flooring.
“I’m really glad that I won my first Grand Slam at this age, because I felt like if I would be 18 years old to win the Grand Slam, then I would be struggling for years,” she mentioned.
“I understand that, yeah, that’s happened, and that was my dream. It was an amazing moment but time to move on. It wasn’t the only one goal.”
World quantity two Sabalenka has made no secret of the truth that she’d love to overtake Iga Swiatek atop the sector ratings.
Swiatek, winner of the French and US Opens closing yr, is secure on the summit via Indian Wells and the Miami Open that follows, however Sabalenka is hoping to stay the drive on by means of successful.
“I have this understanding that no matter what, I have to keep going, keep fighting,” she mentioned.
She’ll struggle for a semi-final berth in opposition to sixth-seeded American Coco Gauff, who rallied within the 3rd set for a 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 victory over Swedish qualifier Rebecca Peterson.
“Playing-wise, obviously, there are a lot of things I can improve on for the next match,” mentioned Gauff, who grew to become 19 on Monday. “Considering the circumstances I’m happy to be done with today.”
Whatever Gauff’s struggles on Tuesday, Sabalenka mentioned she would not be taking {the teenager} flippantly.
Gauff has gained 3 in their 4 encounters, maximum lately at Toronto closing yr.
(With inputs from AFP)