Richard Pagliaro | @tennis_now | Friday, May 23, 2025
Image source: Clive Brunskill/Getty
Arrive at Light City, Aryna Sabalenka Her main mission is not in the dark Roland Garros.
World No. 1 says her goal is simple: to win her first Roland Garros title.
“I think in my career, it’s all about winning championships, big trophys, and I think you have to set a really huge goal for yourself,” Sabalenka told the media in Paris today. “Yes, maybe really crazy goals sometimes.
Although she is playing for her first French Open final, Sabalenka is not satisfied with reaching the finals today.
“Yes, I prefer to win than just get to the finals because I lost in the finals,” Sabalenka said. “I hate it, so it’s not my goal.”
The two-time Australian Open champion performed well last year on his way to the quarterfinals of Roland Garros. There, as Sabalenka fell to the 17-year-old feeling, a noticeable food poisoning caused stomach problems Mirra Andreeva.
Andreeva put Sabalenka, the world’s second-ranked Sabalenka 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4 to beat her first major semi-finals. Sabalenka saw her 23-set streak in the Grand Slam after nearly two and a half hours of battle.
2023 semi-finalist Sabalenka, reflecting on her losses to Andreeva, said that it helped her perfect her diet.
“Well, I’m definitely not going to go to a meal before the quarterfinals,” Sabalenka said. “Since then, we’ve made some adjustments to my food and yes, just make sure it won’t happen again.
“It’s not that I have feedback – it’s not that I have this memory since last year, but, yes, I’m trying to do everything as correctly as possible, make sure nothing happens.”
The Ruler Open champion said she was about to end last year and she was more motivated in Paris this year.
“Of course, I’m very excited because I feel like I’m really ready for the final stage of the competition last year, but, yes, my body doesn’t really feel like it,” Sabalenka said. “Yes, I’m more this year than last year.”
