"I'm definitely not the favorite" - Aryna Sabalenka addresses her 'underdog' status at French Open 2024 amid Iga Swiatek's dominance
Aryna Sabalenka recently assessed her chances of winning the 2024 French Open. The Belarusian heads into the year's second Grand Slam on the back of two successive final losses to rival Iga Swiatek at the Madrid Open and Italian Open.
In the Madrid Open final, Sabalenka and Swiatek went toe-to-toe. The World No. 2 was on the brink of winning the title in the Spanish capital for the second year in a row with three championshi[ points in the final set. However, Swiatek saved them all, and proceeded to win her first title in Madrid Open
Contrary to that match, the Italian Open final was a one-sided affair, as Swiatek dominated Sabalenka from start to finish to win 6-2, 6-3. While the Belarusian did muster seven break point opportunities, she failed to convert any of them as the Pole held on tight to win her 21st career title, her fourth title this season, and her second WTA 1000 title in a row.
Speaking to the press following yet another final defeat to Swiatek, Sabalenka opened up on her chances at the French Open. According to the Belarusian, she is not the favorite going into Roland Garros. However, at the same time, she said that she could not be counted as an underdog either, even though she would prefer to be one.
"I'm not like underdog there. Being No. 2 seeded, it's tough to call yourself 'underdog'.I'm definitely not the favorite probably there. But at the same time I do feel that I can actually go for it. It's 50/50, you know? But I prefer to be underdog," Aryna Sabalenka said.
The World No. 2 also expressed hopes of making it to the final of the French Open. She came close last year, but was stopped in her tracks by eventual runner-up Karolina Muchova in the semifinals.
"I really hope I'm going to make it to the final and I really hope I'll be able to get that win, if it's Iga or not. It's an amazing tournament. It's a Grand Slam. I'll just go there and fight for every point and see what happens after the tournament," Sabalenka added.
Aryna Sabalenka's head-to-head record in finals against Iga Swiatek reflects the Pole's dominance
The Italian Open final marked the fifth WTA Tour-level final contested between Sabalenka and Swiatek. Going into the match, Swiatek had the upper hand in terms of the head-to-head against the Belarusian, having won three out of those four finals, and seven overall out of ten encounters.
After Aryna Sabalenka's final loss in Rome, the Pole extends her head-to-head record in finals against the Belarusian to four wins. As things stand, it would be hard for anyone to bet against Swiatek as the French Open inches closer.
To make matters worse for Sabalenka and others, Swiatek is the two-time defending champion at Roland Garros. The Pole also won the Grand Slam in 2020, which marked her maiden Major triumph.