Sabalenka reopens the debate: Does friendship exist on the circuit?

Carlos Navarro | 15 Aug 2024 | 19.20

Aryna Sabalenka. Source: Getty

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Aryna Sabalenka is known for many things within the WTA. A natural winner, aggressive playing style, charisma off the court... and a fierce competitor on it, one of those players who doesn't hold back and raises her voice against what she believes is not right. However, she always seems willing to bring a smile to the audience when she hangs out with some of her fellow players, maintaining a close relationship with names like Paula Badosa or Ons Jabeur.

The fact that Aryna brings so many moments of joy and laughter off the court places her as one of the most outgoing tennis players on the circuit. But, is she capable of having that kind of friendship with the rest of the players? Does the competitiveness of a locker room that has not always been said to encourage befriending your rivals allow it? The Belarusian spoke openly about this with the Cincinnati tournament, emphasizing how much things have changed within the circuit since she first reached the elite.

"When I was a promising player just starting out on the circuit, you're still learning and trying to figure out what's going on. What you hear is that nobody is nice on the circuit, everyone is complicated, and there's no friendship in the women's circuit. That's all you hear. When you start becoming part of this community, you try to protect yourself. You're very focused on yourself. In a way, you're afraid to open up. Over the years, you realize that things don't work that way.

It's clear that there will always be girls who behave that way, but there are also others who are just like you and with whom you can be friends. Everything comes with experience. Right now, I feel a bit more liberated on this topic. I feel that if I'm ready to play, being friends with my rivals is something that won't distract me. It won't harm my tennis. As soon as I realized that, everything became easier and more fun."

FOCUSED ON DELIVERING HER BEST TENNIS

Aryna arrives in Cincinnati with the goal of regaining her best form, especially in a stretch of the season where she has had ups and downs and has not quite been the dominant player who started the season showing an outstanding level. "I want to focus on taking it step by step, so that every time I step onto the court, I can deliver my best tennis". She needs it, of course, if she wants to arrive at the US Open as a true contender. Will she achieve it this week in Ohio?

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sabalenka reabre el debate: ¿existe la amistad en el circuito?

Aryna Sabalenka