Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, reacts throughout a match towards Coco Gauff, of the US, throughout the ladies’s singles ultimate of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in New York. (AP Picture/Manu Fernandez)
Aryna Sabalenka stated she solely had herself accountable for shedding to Coco Gauff in Saturday’s US Open ultimate after an error-riddled efficiency proved her undoing.
Sabalenka overpowered the American teenager within the first set however Gauff leaned on her sensible defensive talents to show the match round and triumph 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, denying the Belarusian her second Grand Slam of the 12 months.
“She was transferring rather well and defending actually nice, higher than anyone else. So I at all times needed to play like an additional ball,” stated the 25-year-old Sabalenka.
“It’s a mixture of every thing. However I’d say that at present was extra due to me.”
“Not the entire match, however, like, there was key moments within the second set which the one I misplaced, I imply, the moments I misplaced, and people moments helped her to show across the sport,” she added.
“I’d say that simply due to that, like, key moments within the second set the place it was extra about me than her, I misplaced this match.”
Sabalenka hit nearly double the variety of winners to Gauff however completed with 46 unforced errors — the vast majority of them on her forehand.
Gauff grew to become simply the second girl since 2000 to win the US Open after shedding the opening set.
Coco Gauff, left, of the US, poses for pictures with Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, on the ladies’s singles ultimate of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in New York. (AP Picture/John Minchillo)
“She was transferring simply unbelievable at present. However then the second set I begin in all probability overthinking, and due to that I begin form of like shedding my energy,” stated Sabalenka.
“I begin lacking quite a lot of straightforward pictures.
“I imply, the excellent news is that it’s me towards me. The dangerous one is that I’m nonetheless having these points enjoying towards myself.”
Australian Open champion Sabalenka took solace within the information she’s going to ascend to world primary on Monday, changing Iga Swiatek on the prime of girls’s tennis.
“That’s why I’m not tremendous depressed proper now. I’m positively going to be. I’m positively going for a drink tonight if I’m allowed to say that,” she stated.
“However turning into a world primary, it’s an enormous enchancment, and achievement, truly. I’m actually pleased with myself that each one these years I’ve been working so exhausting helped me to develop into world primary.”
Sabalenka is the primary girl since Serena Williams in 2016 to achieve the semifinals or higher in any respect 4 Grand Slams in the identical season.
She hopes that consistency will allow her to stay on the summit for the lengthy haul.
“For me it’s extra about finish the 12 months as world quantity, not similar to develop into world primary after which subsequent week you’re second,” stated Sabalenka.
“It’s good in order that I can say I’ve been world primary, however I actually want to end the 12 months as world primary. That’s why I’m, like, nonetheless optimistic, and I’m nonetheless motivated.”
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