Aryna Sabalena has admitted that she doesn’t really feel ‘hungry’ throughout matches in the mean time, after struggling a surprising defeat to world No 38 Clara Tauson on the WTA 1000 in Dubai.
The world No 1 regarded much more like her ordinary self throughout her opening match in opposition to Veronika Kudermetova, nonetheless, appeared to regress throughout the 6-3, 6-2 loss to the Dane.
The Belarusian’s loss happens within the wake of her first-round loss on the Qatar Open, the place she fell to Ekatarina Alexandrova, and a heartbreaking three-set loss to Madison Keys within the remaining of the Australian Open.
“I imagine that I’m not that hungry on court docket,” acknowledged Sabalenka after her Dubai exit.
“I’m type of in every single place in my ideas and never constant on the court docket. The choices I’m making on the court docket are a bit improper and emotionally, I’m not at my finest.
“I’d say that for the final couple of years, I’m not doing nicely within the Center East. I imagine we have to change one thing within the preparation,” stated the world No 1, who additionally misplaced in her opening-round match in Dubai in 2024 and fell unwell simply previous to the 2025 version.
“Each time I don’t really feel nicely taking part in right here. Even health-wise I’m struggling. Australia at all times takes a variety of power out of me.
“I imagine we simply have to suppose with the workforce for the longer term how we will enhance or get higher within the preparation for the Center East.”
Aryna Sabalenka is subsequent scheduled to take part on the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, happening March 2 – March 16.
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Tauson, who defeated Elina Svitolina in her earlier match, was delighted along with her unlikely victory: “I’ve had some loopy 24 hours after yesterday. I believe I slept perhaps 5 hours final night time. We went to sleep at 3:30am and I didn’t know what form I used to be going to come back out right here in. However a reasonably good one it appears.
“I used to be taking part in some nice tennis, and I felt like, after the match on the Australian Open, I actually felt like I had an opportunity,” stated the Dane, reflecting on her 7-6(5), 6-4 loss to Sabalenka in Melbourne just some weeks prior.
“It was about taking my possibilities right this moment, and I did—although I might have taken much more.
“Now that we’ve performed twice, I really feel like my tempo could also be even increased than hers—although she’s clearly extra constant than I’m! We play very comparable video games. I like the way in which she performs and the way in which the ball comes off the racquet. It’s heavier, clearly, however I felt like I had learn on it right this moment, particularly her second serve, which I had a variety of bother with in Australia.”
Clara Tauson will subsequent play Linda Noskova within the quarter-finals of the WTA 1000 in Dubai.
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