"I give Aryna Sabalenka the edge over Victoria Azarenka now" - Journalist picks US Open 2024 champion as "best Belarusian player of all time"
Tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg has picked Aryna Sabalenka as the best Belarusian tennis player of all time over Victoria Azarenka. The pick came in the aftermath of Sabalenka's 7-5, 7-5 victory in the women's singles final of the 2024 US Open, which marked the World No. 2's third Grand Slam singles title and her second of the year.
Sabalenka locked horns with home favorite Jessica Pegula in the final on Saturday, September 7. Things were tight and even between the pair throughout the contest. World No. 6 Pegula went toe-to-toe with the Belarusian, but when it mattered most, Sabalenka's ferocious ball-striking and well-timed decisions to bring in variety to her game paid off.
Ultimately, despite Pegula's defiance and grit, the World No. 2 prevailed, adding the US Open title to her Grand Slam haul, which also consists of two back-to-back Australian Open titles (2023 and 2024).
Later, journalist Ben Rothenberg took to X (formerly Twitter) and opined that Aryna Sabalenka's 2024 US Open triumph has made her the best Belarusian of all time to play tennis, narrowly ahead of former World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka.
"Also, this win today solidified Sabalenka as the best Belarusian player of all time? Close, but I give her the edge over Azarenka now #usopen," Rothenberg wrote.
Victoria Azarenka's breakthrough came in 2007, and in the years that followed, she eventually established herself as a fixture in the top 10 of the WTA Tour rankings. In 2012, she shot to international superstardom after winning the Australian Open, which also saw her become World No. 1 for the first time. Azarenka also won gold in mixed doubles and bronze in singles at the 2012 London Olympics.
Another Australian Open title followed for the Belarusian in 2013, but she did not go on to win any more Major titles. Azarenka won 19 other singles titles on the WTA Tour.
35 right now, Azarenka is still active on the WTA Tour and competed at the US Open, where she lost to Wang Yafan in the third round. The two-time Australian Open champion hailed compatriot Sabalenka on her US Open triumph.
Aryna Sabalenka was lauded by Victoria Azarenka after former's US Open 2024 success
Victoria Azarenka has expressed her amazement at Aryna Sabalenka's hard-fought victory over Jessica Pegula in the final of the 2024 US Open on X. The two-time Major winner also hailed Sabalenka as the world's best tennis player so far this year.
"Amazing win for @SabalenkaA. Congratulations. Best player in the world this season!" Azarenka wrote.
Azarenka and Sabalenka are former doubles partners. The pair's greatest success came at the 2021 German Open, where they won the women's doubles title.
Despite her 2024 US Open triumph, Sabalenka will still remain the World No. 2, with rival Iga Swiatek retaining the top spot. She is next scheduled to compete at the China Open in Beijing.