“That’s just the thing I really want to see”: Aryna Sabalenka reveals main motivation to keep improving after Madrid Open loss

World number two, Aryna Sabalenka, has stated that staying part of the women’s ‘Big 3’ motivates her to improve her performance. The 26-year-old is regarded as one of the best players currently playing women’s tennis, along with Poland’s Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina.

Sabalenka lost in the final of the Madrid Open on Saturday to Swiatek in a hard-fought final with a score of 7-5, 4-6, 7-6. After the match, the two-time Grand Slam winner stated that the motivation to stay part of the so-called ‘Big 3’ in women’s tennis has helped her maintain her levels.

“That’s just the thing I really want to see. I really want to see many more finals against her,” he said. “I want to see more wins than losses. But I really hope that we’ll be able to keep the level or increase the level every year and just to be one of those three, that’s amazing, and I’m really happy to be one of these Big 3, you call us (smiling). Yeah, that’s a pleasure, you know. It’s really motivating me a lot to keep working and to keep improving myself just so l stay there, and then kind of, like, you know, just be there and get as many wins against them as I can.”