After going back to basics, Sabalenka has 'huge hopes' for hard-court summer
World No. 1 tennis player Aryna Sabalenka is returning to the hard-court season after a brief mental and physical break. Following an early exit at Wimbledon, she has focused on rebuilding her baseline game and regaining her form for upcoming tournaments.
Why it matters
Sabalenka is a dominant force in women's tennis, and her performance in the hard-court swing is critical for the year-end rankings and Grand Slam momentum.
Jimmie48/WTA The last time the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz saw Aryna Sabalenka, the World No. 1 was ready to leave tennis behind -- at least for a little while.
“I want to get completely drunk, forget about tennis,” Sabalenka told reporters after falling to Naomi Osaka in straight sets in the fourth round at the All England Club -- her earliest Grand Slam exit in four years. “And try to get better.”
But after a month of rest, relaxation, and getting "back to basics" on the practice court, Sabalenka is back on her favorite surface this week at the National Bank Open in Toronto. And she has "huge hopes" for the second half.
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