Sabalenka: "I was very surprised that they changed my court's match"

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Being number 1 in the world does not guarantee avoiding a curious situation like the one Aryna Sabalenka experienced at the 2026 Miami Open. Just hours before she was set to take the court for her debut, the Belarusian was contacted by the organization to ask if she wanted them to cancel her match or change the court. She shared this in the press conference after defeating Li.

"I was very surprised that they considered canceling my match and offered me several options to play on other courts. I thought I didn't understand what the issue was if Alcaraz and Fonseca started later when that had happened on other days. I decided to play today to have a day off to rest. The decision had a big impact on me, but at least they allowed me to choose to play on another court. I had never faced a situation like this; I wouldn't have minded waiting, but I understand that the best organizational decision was that," she explained.

Sabalenka discusses her unbeaten streak in tiebreaks and the importance of defeating Rybakina in Indian Wells

Asked about the importance of winning in Indian Wells, the Belarusian highlighted how vital it was for her and her confidence to emerge victorious against Rybakina. "It was crucial for me because I had lost several finals in important tournaments. I didn't even want to think that I could lose the third consecutive final to Elena. I feel that in those defeats, I had my chances, and it was very disappointing to end up losing. I wanted to prove to myself that you can come back stronger after that kind of disappointment. Thanks to them, I am mentally stronger," Aryna admitted.

One of the most impressive aspects of Aryna Sabalenka's recent performances is her efficiency in tiebreaks, having won 19 consecutively. "If this continues, my game plan before each match should be to reach the tiebreak," joked the world number 1. "I don't think about that record; I just play point by point, try to stick to my strategy, and enjoy the challenge," stated one of the best players on the planet, who will face American Catherine McNally in the third round of the 2026 Miami Open.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sabalenka: "Me sorprendió mucho que cambiaran mi partido de pista"