The incredible charm of Aryna Sabalenka isn’t over yet. After her brilliance at the 2024 US Open, the Belarusian is now turning heads in China. Following her four titles and a new feat on Chinese soil, Sabalenka was asked if the enthusiastic Chinese crowd contributed to her form. As she shared her thoughts, she left the tennis world wondering: Is Sabalenka unaware of her success in China, or simply overwhelmed by her accomplishments in the country?

After clinching her second Grand Slam title of the season, Sabalenka returned to China, a place where she has enjoyed immense professional success. The Belarusian has won four WTA titles in the country, placing her alongside Agnieszka Radwańska. With Iga Świątek withdrawing from the China Open, Sabalenka entered the tournament as the top seed. She defeated Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew in the first round of the 2024 China Open, 6-4, 6-1. Following this win, she has now claimed victory in 18 of the 21 matches she has played in WTA 1000 tournaments in China— the most wins by any player since the format’s introduction in 2009. When asked about the immense support from the Chinese fans, Sabalenka had an interesting response.

“I’m having a lot of great memories from the past. Actually, I don’t even know how many tournaments I won in China. Yeah, it’s always great to come back and feel the atmosphere, feel the vibe, knowing that I kind of gain my fan club here,” Sabalenka said, expressing her feelings about achieving a dedicated Chinese fan club in the country.

The Belarusian also expressed her “amazing” encouragement seeing such a response from fans. “It’s give me, like, more motivation to go there and compete and bring my best tennis and make sure I stay till the last stages of the tournament so I can enjoy this atmosphere as much as possible,” she said. Her words reflected her strong connection with the country and its tennis community.

After discussing the crowd, Sabalenka also shared insights about her experience in the 2024 China Open, praising her Thai opponent and reflecting on her performance in the first match.

Aryna Sabalenka confessed about “struggling a little bit with the rhythm” in China

Although the WTA world number two achieved another milestone with her first-round win at the China Open, the journey wasn’t without its challenges. Commenting on the strength of Sawangkaew’s defense, Sabalenka said, “In the first set, I was struggling a little bit with the rhythm, In the second set, seems like everything started working much better. I think that’s why it was more smooth and better quality.”

Despite these struggles, Sabalenka’s joy at returning to her favorite venue outweighed any difficulties. “Especially on this surface in these conditions. I’m happy I was able to manage that set. In the second set, everything started coming together. Thank you so much for the support. It’s really amazing to be back here. I’m happy with this win,” she said.

Aryna Sabalenka’s words echoed her deep affection for WTA tournaments in China. She expressed her gratitude to the supportive Chinese crowd and revealed how their energy motivates her to continue winning titles in the country. Following her heartfelt confession, many in the tennis community are hopeful that she will secure another title in China and further cement her legacy.