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<\/p>\nAryna Sabalenka said Tuesday she was feeling \u201cfresh\u201d ahead of her first tournament since losing the No. 1 ranking and falling short in her bid for a fourth Grand Slam title of the season.<\/p>\n
The Belarusian spent 99 weeks atop the rankings before being replaced by Kazakhstan\u2019s Elena Rybakina, who also defeated her in this month\u2019s U.S. Open final.<\/p>\n
Sabalenka has not won a title since March and will finish the season without a major championship for the first time since 2022.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis time I feel like, because I didn\u2019t play that many matches, I feel fresh,\u201d the 28-year-old said ahead of the China Open in Beijing.<\/p>\n
Despite a relatively quiet stretch by her standards, Sabalenka said her run to the U.S. Open final marked a turning point in her physical condition.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was the moment when I started to feel healthier and stronger,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe middle part of the season … didn\u2019t go that well. I struggled a little bit with different stuff.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the U.S. Open, I started to enjoy tennis again because of being healthy mentally and physically.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sabalenka, who withdrew from Beijing last year because of an injury, begins her bid for a first title there in the round of 64 against either Hungary\u2019s Anna Bondar or Mexico\u2019s Renata Zarazua.<\/p>\n
She is seeded second behind Rybakina, who faces either Ukraine\u2019s Yulia Starodubtseva or Armenia\u2019s Alina Charaeva.<\/p>\n
Last year\u2019s champion, Amanda Anisimova, will not take part after announcing on social media that she was ending her season early because of a wrist injury.<\/p>\n
In the men\u2019s draw, fan favorite Novak Djokovic is looking to add to his six titles at the China Open, where he has never lost a singles match.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy record speaks for itself on Chinese soil. Knowing that, it also brings this dimension of confidence that I really need,\u201d the Serbian, 39, told reporters Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cOverall, it\u2019s been really good so far with the body, the way I\u2019m feeling and playing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Djokovic has won a record 24 Grand Slam titles but is currently ranked 11th in the world. He begins his Beijing campaign against Portugal\u2019s Nuno Borges in the first round.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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