Aryna Sabalenka focused on improving despite huge rankings lead over Iga Swiatek – “I’m not really thinking about it”

Aryna Sabalenka Stays Focused on Improvement Despite Commanding Rankings Lead Over Iga Swiatek

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka bounced back from her Indian Wells final defeat in dominant fashion, capturing the Miami Open title with a commanding 7-5, 6-2 victory over Jessica Pegula in Saturday’s final. The win marked yet another flawless hard-court performance, as she didn’t drop a set throughout the tournament.

Sabalenka Extends Lead in WTA Rankings

With 17 hard-court titles since her WTA debut in 2017—five more than World No. 2 Swiatek—Sabalenka has further solidified her status as one of the best on fast surfaces.

“Oh, that’s crazy,” Sabalenka said. “But if you compare it to clay, I’m definitely far behind Iga. That’s impressive to see. It shows the hard work I’ve put in, and seeing the results is just amazing.”

Her Miami Open triumph further widened the rankings gap, giving her an over 3,000-point lead over Swiatek.

Clay-Court Challenge Awaits

As the European clay-court season begins, Sabalenka faces a tougher challenge, with Swiatek reigning supreme on the surface. However, the Belarusian insists she isn’t overly concerned about rankings and is instead focusing on self-improvement.

“Honestly, I’m not really thinking about it,” she admitted. “It’s a great lead, but my focus is on improving and making sure I bring my best game every time. Of course, I’ll keep hoping to stay ahead [laughs], but it’s about getting better.”

Her clay-court campaign kicks off at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, followed by Madrid, Rome, and Roland Garros. Despite questions about her consistency on clay, she remains confident:

“I love playing on clay. People always question my game on it, but I know I can do well. We’ll focus a lot on fitness to ensure I can handle long rallies throughout the match. I’m excited and really hope to perform well.”