“Every loss is extra motivation to work hard and improve things–just to keep going,” Aryna Sabalenka said while hoping to build momentum in Cincinnati this week. She has already passed the first test by ending her opponent, Elisabetta Cocciaretto’s game in the round of 32 match. However, the journey has just begun, and the Belarusian player’s optimism is growing day by day. But will she be able to rekindle the same demeanor in her upcoming U.S. Open tournament as well?

Sabalenka, the three-time semifinalist at Cincinnati, is on a mission to reclaim her position in tennis. After her thrilling second consecutive Australian Open victory this year, the former World No. 1 player has struggled to find consistency in her game, failing to clinch another title even after coming quite close to winning. We saw it throughout her clay court season, where she was not able to surpass Iga Swiatek, the current World No. 1 player, in the finals of the Italian and the Madrid Open. Moreover, later on, her shoulder injury further kept her from performing at Wimbledon and at the 2024 Paris Olympics, adding to her troubles and depriving her fans of seeing her amazing tennis.

However, Sabalenka’s losses have taught her valuable lessons about resilience, adaptability, and the importance of mental toughness, which she aims to utilize in her upcoming adventures in tennis. Echoing the same perspective, the 26-year-old poured her heart out when she was asked, “What are you going to be happy with as far as preparation for the US Open? Is it just a title here or anything or are there certain things you are looking for?” during her post-match conference with the Tennis Channel in Cincinnati.

Sabalenka firmly responded, “I would say I’ll be happy if I will feel not like confident. But if I will feel like this five spirit on-court and if I will feel that I am no matter what.” The Australian Open champion further added, “I am able to be there to stay focused to not get distracted. And to just fight for every point no matter what I’m just kind of like be back in this in that calmness on-court in zone.”

The World No. 3 player’s U.S. Open chapters allude to the same disappointing trend that she has been experiencing this year. In 2022, it was Swiatek who defeated her in the semifinals and last year, Coco Gauff stunned her in the finals of the match.

However, the semifinalist of the Citi Open is determined to improve her results and aims to rebuild her self-assurance, which has been shaken by recent losses. And the quarterfinalist of the Canadian Open, Sabalenka, believes there is one way through which she can regain her confidence!

Sabalenka’s tennis mantra on how to “keep going” even in times of difficulties

Before heading to the opening round of Cincinnati Masters, Sabalenka said that she feels “better” with every match that she plays. Although, she remembers how her reign in this event ended in the semifinals for two times in a row now, World No. 3 does not want to focus on that. Instead, the Belarusian player hopes to make sure that every time she is on-court, she brings her “best tennis and fight for every point and just take it step by step.”

According to her, “Every week is a new tournament. It’s good to have a short memory. That helps to keep things moving and working hard and improving. Every loss is extra motivation to work hard and improve things—just to keep going.”

Sabalenka, the quarterfinalist at the French Open, has faced her share of challenges over the years, including a debilitating serve issue that threatened her career a couple of years ago. But her powerful forehand strokes and determination to bounce back from every adversity is what solidifies her position among the tennis elites. And as she moves ahead, we are waiting to see her conquer her dreams in the same way at the U.S. Open this season!