/>

Sabalenka ready for 'new challenge' in Tokyo

Ash Barty of Australia and local hope Naomi Osaka are expected to be Sabalenka's main challengers at the Tokyo Games.

Published : Jul 20, 2021 15:08 IST , Tokyo

Aryna Sabalenka has won 10 titles on the WTA Tour.
Aryna Sabalenka has won 10 titles on the WTA Tour.
lightbox-info

Aryna Sabalenka has won 10 titles on the WTA Tour.

Fresh from her breakthrough Grand Slam performance at Wimbledon, World No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka is heading to the 2020 Olympics determined to win a medal for Belarus.

The 23-year-old has won 10 titles on the WTA Tour but had never crossed the fourth round at a Grand Slam before this month's Wimbledon, where she made it to the semifinals before losing in three sets to Czech Karolina Pliskova.

"It's my first Olympic Games and I'm really looking forward to it," she told the International Tennis Federation. "This is something new for me. I would say this is the new challenge and I'm really looking forward to it.

READ|

"I'm really happy to represent my country, my people and I want to do everything I can to make sure that Belarus is proud of me. I want to represent my country as strong people who can fight through everything."

World number one Ash Barty of Australia and local hope Naomi Osaka, who is ranked second and won four of the last six Grand Slams held on hardcourts, are expected to be Sabalenka's main challengers at the Ariake Tennis Park.

"I will do everything I can to make this dream (come) true," she said, adding that just thinking about the Olympics gave her goosebumps.

"I am looking forward to the fights. This is something really unbelievable. I'm not afraid of anybody."

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment