Aryna Sabalenka said Tuesday she was feeling “fresh” 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.
The Belarusian spent 99 weeks atop the rankings before being replaced by Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina, who also defeated her in this month’s U.S. Open final.
Sabalenka has not won a title since March and will finish the season without a major championship for the first time since 2022.
“This time I feel like, because I didn’t play that many matches, I feel fresh,” the 28-year-old said ahead of the China Open in Beijing.
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.
“That was the moment when I started to feel healthier and stronger,” she said.
“The middle part of the season ... didn’t go that well. I struggled a little bit with different stuff.
“At the U.S. Open, I started to enjoy tennis again because of being healthy mentally and physically.”
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’s Anna Bondar or Mexico’s Renata Zarazua.
She is seeded second behind Rybakina, who faces either Ukraine’s Yulia Starodubtseva or Armenia’s Alina Charaeva.
Last year’s champion, Amanda Anisimova, will not take part after announcing on social media that she was ending her season early because of a wrist injury.
In the men’s 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.
“My record speaks for itself on Chinese soil. Knowing that, it also brings this dimension of confidence that I really need,” the Serbian, 39, told reporters Monday.
“Overall, it’s been really good so far with the body, the way I’m feeling and playing.”
Djokovic has won a record 24 Grand Slam titles but is currently ranked 11th in the world. He begins his Beijing campaign against Portugal’s Nuno Borges in the first round.
