She is world No.1, a three-time Grand Slam winner and has banked career earnings of about $55 million but Aryna Sabalenka has not forgotten the hard times.
The Belarus star, who has accumulated 20 tour titles along the way, had just eased to a 6-2 6-3 win over Olga Danilovic, of Serbia, to reach the fourth round of the French Open, when she decided to settle some old scores in her post-match media conference.
She called out some of her former coaches, who, she said, constantly put her down and told her she would not make the grade.
From the summit of the women’s game, she delivered a meaty slap-down of her own, saying there is no place for cruel, overbearing coaches in the sport.
“It’s not about pushing me too hard. I’ve always been quite motivated and they didn’t have to push me,” she said.
“But I have heard a lot. Saying I’m not smart enough, that I’m stupid, and I’ll never make it, and I don’t have anything to make it to the top.”
Sabalenka, who has won back-to-back Australian Open titles in 2023 and 2024, along with the US Open in 2024, had her own method of dealing with such criticism. “I was just laughing and saying ‘we’ll see’,” she said.
“I guess I want to send a quick message to them to quit their job, because honestly, I think they know nothing and they better quit just to save other players,” she said.
Meanwhile defending champion Iga Swiatek continued her chase for a fifth French Open title by remaining cool at a steamy Roland Garros to overcome Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian 6-2 7-5 to reach the fourth round.
But the Pole had to navigate a second set lasting 1 hour, 16 minutes, yelling in relief after winning on her second match point.
“I’m just happy that I was super solid in that last game and did not give her any free points,” said Swiatek.
“She went for it, and it was a great match. We both played nice and I’m happy with my performance.”
Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen beat 18-year-old qualifier Victoria Mboko 6-3 6-4, while 16the seed Amanda Anisimova and Liudmila Samsonova also advanced.
With agencies
Content Source: www.perthnow.com.au