Aryna Sabalenka insists being the favourite to win this year’s US Open does not bring extra pressure, saying it comes with the territory once you hit “top-five level”.
The reigning Australian Open champion emphasised why she is being tipped for her first title at Flushing Meadows with a commanding 6-1, 6-2 victory over Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen in the quarter-final.
The statistics speak for themselves as she took her unbeaten run to 10 matches as she started the final major of the year on the back of winning the Cincinnati Open.
The Belarusian has now reached the semi-final or better at the US Open for four consecutive years while she has made it to the last four in seven of the last 8 Grand Slams events that she entered.
Although world No 1 Iga Swiatek and sixth seed Jessica Pegula are still alive in the tournament, Sabalenka is a lot of people’s favourite and she will do everything to get her hands on the trophy.
“If you get to the top-five level, everyone will take you as a favourite,” she explained. “But as I always say, it’s not about being favourite, it’s about how hard they’re ready to fight for it, you know, and it’s going to be tough moments in the matches when you don’t feel your best and you have to go through it.
“It’s all about that. But I’m really glad they take me as a favourite and I’ll do my very best to hold this beautiful trophy.”
Sabalenka, who lost last year’s final against Coco Gauff in three sets, faces another American in Emma Navarro in the semi-final.
The pair have met twice with the world No 2 winning their round of 16 match at Roland Garros this year while the American was victorious on the hard courts in Indian Wells in March.
“She’s doing really well. Beautiful to see she’s working hard, playing really great tennis, smart tennis, moving well, hitting pretty heavy shots,” Sabalenka said.
“Last two matches we played was really tough, tough matches physically and mentally. Even though I won the last one in two sets, it wasn’t that easy match, and it was very intense match. I’m really looking for another great battle against her
She added: “I’m gonna try to put so much pressure on her and probably try not to let her do her stuff and, yeah, I have to think about that tomorrow and I have to talk about that with my coach.”
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