Follow us on Google Discover Aryna Sabalenka will soon turn her focus to the WTA Finals after falling in the semifinals of the Wuhan Open.
Sabalenka was surprised by the fans in Wuhan, having entered the WTA 1000 event as the defending champion.
But Sabalenka fell to Jessica Pegula in the semifinals, with the latter then losing the Wuhan Open final to Coco Gauff.
Sabalenka was playing in her first event since the US Open, which she won last month for her fourth career Grand Slam title.
The world number one successfully defended her title in New York, defeating Amanda Anisimova in the final after last year’s final win over Pegula.
Photo by Wang He/Getty ImagesAryna Sabalenka claimed to hold an advantage over the rest of the WTA Tour
The success arrived after Sabalenka lost both the finals of the Australian Open and the French Open, to Madison Keys and Gauff respectively.
Sharing her latest verdict on the world number one, former player CoCo Vandeweghe said on Tennis Channel: “I think the most important thing is that year-end number one.
“She’s got that secured. She’s got that locked. I remember going into Cancun two years ago, where she was holding number one in the world, and Iga [Swiatek] snatched it from her at the end.
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“And that, to me, I think, has been so important for Aryna Sabalenka, to hold that year-end number one. And how she’s been able to bounce back mentally.
“Because she lost those tough finals of Roland Garros to Coco Gauff, she lost in the semis of Wimbledon, which we thought she was going to win that and cakewalk to the final, but then there was Amanda Anisimova.
“So there’s a lot of opportunities out there. And then Aryna Sabalenka, bouncing right back, winning the US Open.
“Coming in with a Grand Slam to the year-end championships, that is such a difference maker to the rest of the field.
“Because it’s dog-eat-dog in the locker room, and you’re holding that little extra swagger out there. It’s different when you’re sitting next to Serena Williams versus CoCo Vandeweghe.”
What is Aryna Sabalenka’s entire rankings history on the WTA Tour?
Sabalenka enjoyed a blistering start to her season, winning the title in Brisbane before that Australian Open final heartbreak.
She also clinched success in Miami, Madrid and at the US Open, with her four titles taking her career total to 21.
Top rank by yearYearYear-end ranking120251120241120232220225220212102020109201911112018117320177813520161593852015548Aryna Sabalenka’s entire WTA rankings history
The Belarusian boasts a stunning 59-11 win-loss record from her 70 matches, and holds a very healthy lead over Swiatek at the top of the WTA rankings.
She has already won the year-end number one battle, but perhaps more important will be claiming success at next month’s WTA Finals.