Despite Being No. 1, Iga Swiatek Competition Doesn’t Really Matter for Aryna Sabalenka as She Reveals Her True ‘Focus’
Belarusian star Aryna Sabalenka has reached a milestone that many players only dream of, yet she remains refreshingly unphased by the achievement. It’s not that she isn’t thrilled—it’s simply that Sabalenka doesn’t consider it the pinnacle of her career. In a recent conversation with Andy Roddick, she opened up about her journey, sharing insights that reveal why she deserves the recognition she has earned. Her perspective shows a grounded focus, highlighting personal growth and passion for something more than simply being at the top. So, what did she say?
Sabalenka may be savoring a romantic getaway in Paris with her boyfriend, Georgios Frangulis, but she still made time to appear on Andy Roddick’s podcast Served, where she spoke candidly about her recent performance, her WTA No. 1 ranking, and her passion for the sport. Sabalenka’s impressive 2024 season, featuring two Grand Slam titles, catapulted her to the top of the WTA rankings in September—a milestone that, while exciting, revealed her true perspective on success.
During her conversation with Roddick, Sabalenka shared that ending the season as the world’s No. 1 wasn’t part of her plan. “I wasn’t really focusing on the world’s No. 1 ranking or what I needed to do to finish the year at the top. I didn’t go that deep, just so you know (laughs). I was like, whatever. People would ask, ‘Do you know what it takes to finish as world No. 1?’ and I’d be like, no, and don’t tell me—I don’t want to know. I just wanted to focus on my tennis,” she said, emphasizing that her main goal was purely to excel at her game.
