After falling to American Coco Gauff a heart-breaking 2023 US Open final, Aryna Sabalenka admits to mentally revisiting that match during her semifinal victory over Emma Navarro at this year’s edition.
The big-hitting Belarusian blew a one-set lead before falling to Gauff in three sets in the final of last year’s event. However, Sabalenka seems eager to finally wrap her hands around the Flushing Meadows title, after overpowering Navarro in straight sets in the semifinal on Thursday.
Sabalenka credits previous defeat to Gauff as determination for making this year’s final
The two-time Australian Open champion recounted the intense emotions she faced during her victory over Navarro, stating the difficult experience of losing last year’s final facilitated her triumph in the semifinals.
“That was very difficult match, especially at the end of the second set I got a little emotional and had this little flashback on last year’s final, meaning the crowd atmosphere,” said Sabalenka after the match. “I’m really glad that the lessons learned, and I was able to control my emotions and I was able to close this match in two sets.
“Last year, it was very tough experience, very tough lesson. Today in the match, I was, like, ‘No, no, no, Aryna, it’s not going to happen again. You have to control your emotions. You have to focus on yourself.
“Tough losses never make me feel depressed. It’s only motivated me to come back and to try one more time, try harder and maybe, like, work harder on some things which maybe didn’t work in the past. I’m still hoping to hold that beautiful trophy.
“It’s only motivated me to come back and to try one more time, try harder and maybe, like, work harder on some things which maybe didn’t work in the past. I’m still hoping to hold that beautiful trophy.”
Sabalenka will face local favorite Jessica Pegula in Saturday’s final, as the American rallied from a set down to defeat Karolina Muchova in the other semifinal.
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