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Aryna Sabalenka didn't hide her disappointment with how her WTA Finals run ended after being dismantled by Iga Swiatek. On Sunday, Swiatek clinched a 6-3 6-2 win over Sabalenka in the semifinal at the WTA Finals. Sabalenka, who lifted her first Grand Slam title this year and also reached the world No 1 ranking for the first time in her career, was hoping to cap off of her season with a maiden WTA Finals title and also seal the Year-End No 1 ranking over Swiatek.
Sabalenka's 2023 season is now officially over and she was asked in her press to describe her WTA Finals run and her season by using three words. In the group stage, Sabalenka beat Ons Jabeur and Elena Rybakina, while she was beaten by Jessica Pegula.
“About my performance here - challenging, terrible, not the best... Super sad. And this season? Unbelievable, incredible, the best (laughing). I wish I would say the best about this tournament," Sabalenka said.
Sabalenka thinks there is a lot more that she can learn
Sabalenka, 25, accomplished her two biggest tennis goals this year.
But at the WTA Finals, Sabalenka failed to come up big and meet the expectations. Sabalenka was evidently not happy with how she performed against Swiatek and she has suggested that she will try to use that match as a learning experience. “I’ve had a lot of lessons this season.
A lot of tough losses, a lot of great wins, becoming world No 1 [but] it’s not about ranking. I feel like those tough matches, this is something you need sometimes to learn. I’ll just keep working. I feel like I’m going in the right direction, I have to stick to our plan, and just keep going, forget the negative side of this season, focus on the positive, and just keep working, and keep getting better," Sabalenka said.
Leading up to the 2023 season, Sabalenka plans to compete in two exhibitions - at the World Tennis League in Dubai and the Belarusian will also meet Ons Jabeur in Riyadh in late December.