UNITED STATES: Due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, players from Belarus and Russia, including 24-year-old Aryna Sabalenka, were not permitted to compete at Wimbledon this year.
The sixth-ranked player in the world claimed that she improved her game during the additional “pre-season.”
Aryna Sabalenka commented after defeating Karolina Pliskova, “They took one opportunity from me, and I worked incredibly hard for this one.”
In the semifinal matchup, world number one Iga Swiatek of Poland will face Sabalenka, who defeated 22nd seed Pliskova of the Czech Republic 6-1 7-6 (7-4).
Swiatek, 21, defeated American hopeful Jessica Pegula in a tense 6-3 7-6 (7-4) victory to reach the semifinals in New York for the first time.
Aryna Sabalenka is the second Wimbledon player to get to the US Open singles semifinals after Karen Khachanov of Russia qualified for the men’s last four.
Aryna Sabalenka defeated 2016 runner-up Pliskova with a strong performance, hitting 30 winners and seven aces without encountering a breaking point. She later said that she had been diligently practising her serve when she was prohibited from competing in London.
“It was a tough time, especially when I was working out in the gym and there was Wimbledon playing on the TV,” the player said, continuing, “I was constantly turning it off because I couldn’t watch it.”
She added, “I had a lot of good memories from there, and I miss it very much. That’s why I couldn’t watch it because it reminded me about my great time there.”
Aryna Sabalenka continued, who also advanced to the semifinals in Flushing Meadows the previous year, is tough, and there’s a lot of pressure.
“I’m just trying to think in that way, that I’m just an athlete and I have nothing to do with politics.”
“I’m just trying to play my best and make sure that people enjoy watching my matches.”
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