Following her withdrawal from Wimbledon, Aryna Sabalenka made a conscious decision to take some much-needed time for herself. The Belarusian powerhouse, who was sidelined from the prestigious tournament due to a shoulder injury, didn’t just jet off to a luxurious vacation as some may have assumed.
Sabalenka, in an interview with Tennis Channel, shed light on the struggles she faced during her time away from the court. “I wouldn’t say that. It was very tough to get injured and not be able to compete at Wimbledon. I was very prepared to go there but, unfortunately, it is what it is. I was doing a lot of rehabilitation and, although it seems like I was living a holiday life, almost half of the day I was doing treatments and rehabilitation exercises,” she revealed.
The two-time Grand Slam champion made an effort to enjoy some downtime amid her rigorous rehab routine. “I had a couple of days where I really enjoyed myself and tried to separate myself from tennis and accept that I was injured and I couldn’t compete. It was a kind of rehabilitation and, at the same time, I was able to enjoy my life,” Sabalenka shared.
Despite the setback at Wimbledon, Sabalenka had enjoyed a strong start to the season by defending her Australian Open title. However, she encountered some bumps during the Sunshine Double before finding her rhythm again during the clay season. Her deep runs in Madrid and Rome set the stage for her to make a mark at the French Open.
The disappointment struck when Sabalenka bowed out in the quarterfinals of the French Open to Mirra Andreeva. The loss was a bitter pill to swallow for the ambitious Belarusian, who had her sights set on capturing the title.
As she made her return to the court at the Cincinnati Open, Sabalenka reflected on the challenges she faced and the perseverance she displayed during her time off. Her journey, filled with highs and lows, served as a reminder of the resilience and dedication required to thrive in the competitive world of professional tennis.
