“Make sure she cannot overcome this mountain” - Aryna Sabalenka makes bold remark on rivalry with Zheng Qinwen in Wuhan
Aryna Sabalenka will be on the hunt for her fourth title of the year at the 2024 Wuhan Open. Ahead of her campaign at the WTA 1000 tournament, the Belarusian talked about her rivalry with Chinese sensation Zheng Qinwen.
Sabalenka is the top seed at the 2024 Wuhan Open. The tournament returned to the WTA Tour this year after a four-year hiatus, and the 26-year-old won the title back-to-back in 2018 and 2019 when it was WTA 500-level competition. The Belarusian arrived at the 2024 Wuhan Open after a quarterfinal finish at the China Open.
Ahead of her second-round contest, Aryna Sabalenka sat down for an interview with Chinese media house Xinhua News Agency. During the conversation, the three-time Grand Slam champion was asked about her rivalry with rising Chinese star Zheng Qinwen. The interviewer told the Belarusian that many Chinese fans refer to her as the "mountain" Zheng Qinwen cannot climb.
Sabalenka was amused to hear the label and took it as a validation of the progress in her tennis career. Moreover, she vowed to continue to work on her game and remain unbent against Chinese No. 1.
"It's nice to hear that! And it just means that I’m on the right way and I will continue working to make sure she cannot overcome this mountain," Aryna Sabalenka said.
Sabalenka and Zheng have faced each other thrice on the WTA Tour. All matches have come at Grand Slams (2023 US Open quarterfinal, 2024 Australian Open final, and 2024 US Open quarterfinal), and the Belarusian has emerged victorious in straight sets on all three occasions.
“Coming back, everything feels like home"- Aryna Sabalenka on her return to Wuhan
Aryna Sabalenka was excited to play in Wuhan once again after a long time. In press interaction before her second-round match, the former World No. 1 recalled winning the tournament in consecutive years and expressed disappointment in not coming back to the city soon. She said (via Tennis.com):
“It’s been a while since I’ve been here. I remember my first time winning Wuhan was a very special moment. And winning it two times in a row, I was very sad that I couldn’t come back the following year."
Returning to Wuhan felt like a homecoming to Sabalenka, who reminisced about the memories of the past and hoped to replicate her run at the tournament from 2019 when she defeated Alison Riske in the title contest.
“Coming back, actually, everything feels like home. I have really beautiful memories from the past. I really hope I can replicate my result from 2019.”
At the 2024 Wuhan Open, Sabalenka successfully navigated the tricky challenge of Katerina Siniakova in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, in the second round on October 9. She will next face Yulia Putintseva in the third round on October 10.