By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_now | Friday, May 23, 2025
Photo Credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty
Arriving in the city of Light, Sabalenka is not in the dark for its main mission to Roland Garros.
World no. 1 says her goal is simple: win the championship of her daughter Roland Garros.
“I think at this point of my career, yes, it’s about winning titles, big trophies, and I think you have to put really big goals for yourself,” Sabalenka told Paris media today. “Yes, maybe sometimes really crazy goals.
Although she is playing for her first French open final, Sabalenka is not pleased to reach the finals these days.
“Yes, I’m more, like, winning, than to reach the finals, because losing to the last absorption,” Sabalenka said. “I hate it, so it’s not the purpose for me.”
Australian double champion Open approached last year looking for a strong road to Roland Garros’s quarter -finals. There, a period of significant food poisoning caused stomach problems while Sabalenka fell into 17-year-old sensation Mirria Andva.
Andreeva upset world no. 2 Sabalenka 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4 to reach its first semifinal ever in her career. Sabalenka saw a winner of her 23-party winners in the Majorians snapped after the battle nearly two and a half an hour.
Reflecting on that loss to Andreeva, the 2023 semifinalist Sabalenka said she helped her refine her diet.
“Well, I will definitely not go for the same meal I had before that quarter -final match. The lesson is taught,” Sabalenka said. “Since then, we made some adjustments in my food, and yes, just make sure it will never happen again.
“It’s not like me to have the reactions – not the reactions, it’s not like having this memory from last year, but yes, I’m trying to do everything as much as possible, make sure nothing happens.”
The reigning champion of the US Open said Afrim makes it more motivated last year in Paris this year.
“Of course I’m super motivated because I felt like last year I was really ready to be in the final stages of the tournament, but yes, my body didn’t really feel the same,” Sabalenka said. “Yes, this year I’m more motivated than I was last year.”
