Aryna Sabalenka "not focusing" on being the new Serena Williams as she prepares for Italian Open

2023 Australian Open winner Aryna Sabalenka recently said she is not focusing on being the new Serena Williams. Sabalenka was speaking in a press conference ahead of the 2023 Italian Open.

The Belarusian is coming off a tremendous win at the WTA 1000 event in Madrid. She defeated World No. 1 Iga Swiatek 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in the final on Saturday (May 6), avenging her defeat at the hands of the Pole in the Stuttgart final last month.

Aryna Sabalenka, who will begin her run at the Italian Open against either Sofia Kenin or Cristina Bucsa, attended a press conference in Rome and was asked how she feels about being the new Serena Williams in terms of her power play.

Sabalenka replied that while she wasn't focused on emulating Williams, being compared to the 23-time Grand Slam winner was flattering.

"I don't know. I don't think about that. That sounds good, you know (smiling)? I don't know. I'm not thinking about that. I'm not focusing on that," Sabalenka said.

"I'm just focusing on improving myself and getting better every day. Yeah, that's it. I'm not really thinking about that. It sounds crazy and it sounds good to be really strong (smiling)," she added.

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"I'm doing everything I can" - Aryna Sabalenka on getting closer to the World No.1 ranking

Aryna Sabalenka pictured at the 2023 Mutua Madrid Open - Day Thirteen.

Aryna Sabalenka was also asked if she could get closer to Iga Swiatek and eventually overtake her as World No. 1. The Pole currently has 9,625 points, while the Belarusian has 7,881.

Sabalenka responded that she is making every effort to fulfil her dream rather than overtake Swiatek, but that she does hope to eventually surpass the Warsaw native.

"I'm doing everything I can to get closer not like to her but to my dream. I'm working really hard. I'm trying to stay focused on every match, every tournament. That's what I really want to do," Aryna Sabalenka said.

"Hopefully, yeah, I can get as close as I can or probably even - how to say.. Overtake," she added.

Swiatek is defending 3,000 points as the Italian Open and the French Open champion in the coming weeks. Sabalenka has far fewer points to defend, and given her recent form, she is expected to advance far in these tournaments.

If she outperforms the Pole over the next month or two, she has a good chance of taking the World No. 1 spot.