By Emiliano Naftali
ARYNA SABALENKA added her name to tennis history once again by becoming the new world No. 1 in the women’s circuit. 2023 will undoubtedly be an unforgettable year for the Belarusian. Her fantastic season began with her first Grand Slam victory at the Australian Open, a triumph that allowed her to overcome the ups and downs, both in tennis and emotionally, that she had experienced throughout her career.
“Reaching the WTA world No. 1 in singles is something I’ve dreamed of since I was a little girl when I started playing tennis. This year has been incredible for me and my team, and this is the perfect reward for all our hard work,” said Sabalenka.
The 25-year-old Belarusian’s rise to the top of the WTA rankings came after Iga Swiatek’s defeat at the US Open. The Polish player was the defending champion, but her loss to Jelena Ostapenko in the fourth round cost her crucial points needed to remain at the top of the rankings.
“It’s an incredible feeling to join the amazing list of other WTA players who have achieved this, and it’s a huge honor to be able to call myself No. 1,” described the Minsk native, who becomes the second Belarusian-born player to reach the top spot after Victoria Azarenka.