Aryna Sabalenka lifts lid on ‘disaster’ before US Open as champion’s mentality on show | Tennis | Sport

Aryna Sabalenka has opened up on how she was forced to withdraw from competing at Wimbledon due to injury.

The world No. 2 sustained a shoulder problem in the build-up to the Ladies Open in Berlin, and the pain worsened as she progressed through the different stages of the competition. Sabalenka reached the quarter-finals of the tournament before retiring.

The Belarusian then withdrew from her first-round clash at Wimbledon due to the injury, as well as the Olympic Games in Paris.

But Sabalenka hit the ground running upon her return to full fitness, cruising to victory in the US Open to secure her third Major title. Speaking about her success, the 26-year-old highlighted that her ‘win at all costs’ mentality worsened her injury.

She explained to tennis.com: “It was a disaster for me. I felt like because I didn’t stop when I had to, I got to the point when I got injured.

“I thought the only way to get through a difficult challenge was just to work through it, keep focusing on my job. It was too much stress on myself without realizing that.”

Following her emphatic victory over Jessica Pegula in the final of the US Open, Sabalenka talked up her mentality once more by touching on how disappointing defeats in the past have spurred her on to improve. She also urged young tennis stars to keep pushing to follow their dreams.

In her post-match interview, Sabalenka said: “You know everything I’m thinking, I remember all those tough losses in the past here and, and you know, just, it’s going to sound easy but never give up on your dream and just keep, keep trying, keep working hard.