Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1 and top seed at the 2025 French Open, sent a powerful message to her competitors, declaring, “I feel stronger than ever” as she aims for her first Roland Garros title and fourth Grand Slam crown. Speaking at a pre-tournament press conference on May 23, 2025, as reported by Sportstar, Sabalenka highlighted her improved physical and mental readiness for clay, stating, “Throughout the years I’ve improved a lot, and today I feel physically, mentally… my game is pretty much ready to play on clay.” Her confidence stems from a stellar 2025 clay season, including a WTA 1000 title in Madrid, where she defeated Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-4 in the final, and a quarterfinal run at the Italian Open, despite a 6-4, 6-3 loss to Zheng Qinwen.
Sabalenka, who opens against Russia’s Kamilla Rakhimova on May 25, emphasized her enhanced versatility, incorporating drop shots and net play to complement her trademark power, as noted by Reuters. “On clay, power is not enough. You have to build the point three or four times, so you have to be physically and mentally ready,” she said. Her 12-2 clay record this year, including a Stuttgart final, underscores her growth since last year’s quarterfinal upset by Mirra Andreeva at Roland Garros, where a stomach bug hampered her. Reflecting on that loss, she jokingly vowed to avoid the same pre-match meal, per BBC Sport.
With a commanding 4,300-point lead over Gauff in the WTA rankings and a favorable draw—potentially facing Zheng or Diana Shnaider in the quarterfinals and Iga Swiatek in the semifinals—Sabalenka thrives on the pressure of being the hunted. “Knowing there’s someone chasing me, I love it. I take it as a challenge,” she told journalists, per France24. Posts on X, like @STsportsdesk, amplified her bold statement, with fans noting her tactical evolution. Despite never reaching a Roland Garros final, her 2023 semifinal run and six finals in 2025, including Brisbane and Miami titles, position her as a formidable favorite to lift the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen on June 7.
