Aryna Sabalenka arrived in Beijing in high spirits and was greeted with a warm welcome as she prepared for the China Open 2024. Fans showered her with gifts, reflecting her growing popularity and the Belarusian expressed her delight in receiving these tokens of appreciation.
Sabalenka took to her Instagram story to post an image of the plushy dolls she received as gifts in China. The dolls included a panda and a Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear from Toy Story. She captioned her story:
“Warm welcome in China… Collecting gifts, let’s see how many I’ll have by the end of the tournament”
At the China Open, Sabalenka is going to make her first appearance on court after her triumph at the US Open.
Aryna Sabalenka opens up about time off after US Open 2024 triumph ahead of return at China Open 2024
Aryna Sabalenka “sacrificed” the Paris Olympics to come into the North American hardcourt swing fresh. Her decision paid off as she has been in extraordinary form. She reached the semifinal of the Citi Open and the quarterfinal of the Canadian Open before notching up a 12-match win streak to win the Cincinnati Open and the US Open.
The 26-year-old has won crucial points in the last couple of months to qualify for the WTA Finals and rally for the World No. 1 spot.She received a break of over two weeks before returning to tour at the China Open after her US Open triumph. During a press conference in Beijing, the Belarusian said she will reflect on what has happened after the season is over.
“Well, I think I still need some time to realize what happened. I think I just going to look back at the season after I finish this season. Right now I just want to keep going till the end without, like, looking back and thinking,” Aryna Sabalenka said.
The World No. 2 added:
“I think it was enough time. Of course, I would take more break, but I just couldn’t.”
Sabalenka received a bye in the first round of the China Open. The top seed will take on Mananchaya Sawangkaew in the second round. This will be the first encounter between the pair on tour.The US Open champion will be hoping to continue her winning run and capitalize on Iga Swiatek’s absence at the event.
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