Aryna Sabalenka’s bid to bookend her year with a second Grand Slam title fell apart in the US Open final on Saturday.
But the incoming world number one said she will get both comfort and motivation from her lofty perch atop the world rankings.
Sabalenka will overtake Poland’s Iga Swiatek when the new rankings are updated on Monday.
The Belarusian admitted her new status will help ease the sting of her US Open final loss to American teenager Coco Gauff.
“Yeah, that’s why probably, that’s why I’m not super depressed right now,” Sabalenka said when asked to reflect on becoming world number one for the first time.
“I’m definitely going for a drink tonight if I’m allowed to say that,” a smiling Sabalenka added.
“Yes, we are athletes, but sometimes we are drinking, but not much.”
The 25-year-old Sabalenka was the second seed in New York.
She dropped just one set in her march to the final where she took control early and broke Gauff three times en route to grabbing the first set.
But sixth seed Gauff flashed her remarkable speed to extend rallies and managed to force a deciding set where her game reached another level and proved too much for…
Agency Report
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