Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka reached the Indian Wells quarter-finals for the primary time on Tuesday, proceeding her sturdy 2023 marketing campaign with a scuffling with 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 victory over Barbora Krejcikova.
Czech Krejcikova was once the lady who ended Sabalenka’s easiest 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 wreck level within the last recreation and closed it out.
“It’s always tough matches against Barbora,” Sabalenka stated. “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 a little bit shocked via the entire hoopla that attended the victory — equivalent to a photograph shoot with the trophy on a gondola in Melbourne — however made up our minds to simply pass with it.
“I felt really weird,” she stated. “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 stated no longer successful a significant till she was once 24 can 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 stated.
“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 arena ratings.
Swiatek, winner of the French and US Opens closing yr, is secure on the summit thru Indian Wells and the Miami Open that follows, however Sabalenka is hoping to stay the force on via successful.
“I have this understanding that no matter what, I have to keep going, keep fighting,” she stated.
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,” stated 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 stated she would not be taking {the teenager} calmly.
Gauff has received 3 in their 4 encounters, maximum just lately at Toronto closing yr.