The newly crowned WTA world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka is currently in Beijing, vying for the China Open title. After defeating Britain’s Katie Boulter in a competitive three-set match, she expressed her appreciation for the enthusiastic crowd backing her. Sabalenka noted the stark change in fan reception from her previous tournament appearance in China. Her comments highlight her rapid rise in popularity in the country.

Sabalenka has surged up the rankings over the past year, capping it with a breakthrough run to the final at the US Open.

Aryna Sabalenka winning over fans through success

Sabalenka’s ascent into an elite player has coincided with enhanced popularity in China. She thanked the “incredible” pro-Sabalenka crowd after matches. The Belarusian tennis player went on to say that, “It’s always great battles against Katie. She’s really an incredible player. Super happy I won this match. It was really tough.”

Following her win over Boulter, Sabalenka remarked, “Last time I was here, there weren’t so many people supporting us. Thank you so much for coming”.

Last year in China, Sabalenka played in nearly empty stadiums due to the pandemic. Now she revels in having vocal Chinese fans behind her. The contrast illustrates how quickly she has become a favorite in China through her meteoric rise.

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Sabalenka harnessing momentum at a critical tournament

Whereas Sabalenka was once reserved with fans, she has openly embraced the interactions. Sabalenka credits Chinese fans for “giving me good energy on court.” Chinese supporters have gravitated towards Sabalenka as she establishes herself as a contender. She appears to be relishing her newfound support.

Riding high from her US Open success and surge in Chinese fandom, Sabalenka will look to channel these positive forces towards a deep run in Beijing. Her baseline power and fiery intensity have earned respect from Chinese fans. And her emergence as a Slam contender has coincided with enhanced popularity in China.

With her power game suited to Chinese conditions, Sabalenka is poised for a breakthrough. The vocal support couldn’t come at a better time as she seeks a WTA 1000 crown to end the year on a high.

Aryna Sabalenka’s sincere appreciation for the robust Chinese backing she has rapidly gained shows her evolution into a fan favorite. If she continues harnessing this momentum, a maiden WTA 1000 title in China could soon follow.

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