Aryna Sabalenka is having a stellar year, and she’s showing no signs of slowing down! With two Grand Slam titles already in the bag and a steady rise in the rankings, the Belarusian powerhouse is riding high on success. Her campaign at the Asian Open has been just as captivating, and she’s now gearing up for a round of 16 clash against Yulia Putintseva at the Wuhan Open. But it’s not just her game that’s making headlines. While fans and experts continue to admire her fierce skills and relentless drive, Sabalenka recently shared a hilarious take on all the praise coming her way.

The Belarusian tennis sensation engaged in an interaction with GLOBAlink ahead of her next match. She deliberated on several topics including her competition against Qinwen Zheng, the Chinese star who is on an equally mesmerizing form this year. Sabalenka highlighted that she desires to continue playing well against the star player and would attempt to be a roadblock in her way. 

Sabalenka was quizzed about her opinion on the take of Chinese fans who believe that she is better in many aspects than her Chinese counterparts. Speaking about this, the 26-year-old said, “It’s nice to hear that,” as she maintained a smile on her face. Continuing further, she expressed her desire to keep outshining Zheng. “It just means that I’m on the right way and I will continue working, to make sure she cannot overcome this mountain,” Sabalenka added. Interestingly, Sabalenka has continued to prove her dominance over Zheng.

The duo have faced each other thrice on the WTA circuit and Sabalenka has proved her mettle in all three encounters. Her latest win came at the US Open, where the Belarusian defeated the Chinese star in straight sets 6-1, 6-2. What is more fascinating is the fact that all her three victories have come on the hard courts, the same surface where the ongoing Wuhan Open is being played. If both players continue to keep their winning trajectory intact, they may face each other in the finals of the tournament. 

Remember, both Sabalenka and Zheng are on a sensational run. Their rivalry, meanwhile, is not just highlighted by the fans but has also been witnessed on the courts. 

When Qinwen Zheng gave a cold shoulder to Aryna Sabalenka

Qinwen Zheng has often come under the radar of her opponents for her behavior and cold reactions, and a similar incident took place during her match against Aryna Sabalenka at the US Open as well. However, the Belarusian remained stoic throughout, depicting her calm and composed attitude. 

In a video uploaded on X, Zheng can be seen giving the Belarusian giant a cold shoulder during their customary handshake, prompting a cheeky reaction from Sabalenka which was notably visible on her face. While the situation called for a reaction from the 26-year-old, surprisingly, she maintained her composure and proceeded to savor her triumph. Sabalenka, however, was not the only player to have faced this.

Zheng engaged fiercely with Emma Navarro at the Paris Olympics after which the two were rumored to enter into a rift. In fact, Navarro did not shy away from taking digs at her. “I just told her I didn’t respect her as a competitor,” Navarro said after she lost to Zheng at the Olympics. “I think she goes about things in a pretty cut-throat way.”

But for now, the fans would be expecting a clash between Aryna Sabalenka and Qinwen Zheng at the Wuhan Open. Will they meet yet again and can Zheng prevail over Sabalenka this time? Well, only time will tell, but what remains certain is that it will be a thrilling showdown.