Aryna Sabalenka, the current World No. 1 in Women’s Tennis, is hungry for redemption after her disappointing loss in the Australian Open earlier this year. Her quest for a third straight Australian Open title was halted by the reigning champion, Madison Keys, in a nail-biting three-set match. The loss had a significant impact on Sabalenka, who has been looking forward to an opportunity for a rematch ever since.
“The final in Australia was a tough pill to swallow. I couldn’t stop thinking about that match,” Sabalenka confessed following her successful Round of 64 win over McCartney Kessler in the Indian Wells tournament. Her performance post-Australia has been a mixed bag, with early exits in the Middle East swing, including a first-round defeat in Qatar and a round of 16 loss in Dubai.
However, Indian Wells has proven to be a turning point for the Belarusian superstar. She hasn’t dropped a set throughout the BNP Paribas Open, demonstrating her prowess by defeating Liudmila Samsonova in straight sets on March 13. This victory set the stage for the much-awaited rematch with Madison Keys in the semifinals.
Sabalenka expressed her eagerness for the rematch during a post-match press conference, “The loss in Australia has been a source of motivation for me. It was a hard-fought match, and Keys played extremely well. I wasn’t at my best that day. I am thrilled that I have a chance to set things right tomorrow.”
Madison Keys, on the other hand, enters the semifinals with a commanding win over Belinda Bencic. Sabalenka’s anguish was evident when she succumbed to Keys in Melbourne, followed by her struggle to come to terms with the defeat. “It was a challenging period for me. I had to reevaluate my game and start fresh. The final, however, is in the past now, and I view it as a valuable lesson,” Sabalenka remarked.
In addition to her on-court antics, Sabalenka has also made waves on social media. During a fun questionnaire organized by Indian Wells, players were asked to choose one player they’d prefer to be stranded with in a desert. Iga Swiatek, the Polish No. 1, chose Sabalenka, and the response was priceless.
“I got you, Iga. We’re gonna survive. I’m gonna bring you food. Don’t worry. Listen, could go either way. If there wouldn’t be food, I would go for her probably, you know. So it’s kinda like a good and bad option for her. I’ll do my best to do everything so we are not hungry and we’re safe,” Sabalenka joked during the light-hearted conversation.
Sabalenka is scheduled to take the court on March 15 for her revenge match against Keys. A win in the semifinals could potentially boost her chances for a successful title run in Indian Wells, especially as she is yet to win a title this season. Will Sabalenka’s quest for redemption translate into a victory? Only time will tell.