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On Monday, Aryna Sabalenka posed with the Chris Evert trophy, awarded to her for reaching the World No. 1 ranking, in a stunning photoshoot.
Sabalenka became the No. 1 on Monday, September 11, following her US Open runner-up finish, putting an end to Iga Swiatek’s 75-week long debut reign. Just a day after her brutal loss in the final, the Belarusian celebrated her WTA ranking achievement with an official WTA photoshoot in New York City.
Sabalenka cut a happy figure as she was dressed to the nines for the occasion in a chic pantsuit.
Aryna Sabalenka has now joined an elite list of 28 other women who have been ranked No. 1 in WTA history.
The 25-year-old, who was crowned the WTA No. 1 in doubles in 2021, also joined a very small group of players to have held the top spot in both singles and doubles. Martina Navratilova, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, Martina Hingis, Lindsay Davenport, Venus Williams, Serena Williams, and Kim Clijsters were the only seven players to achieve the feat before Sabalenka.
"I'm really proud of myself that all those years helped me to become World No. 1" – Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka kicked off her 2023 season with two back-to-back titles, winning the Adelaide International 1 as well as her maiden Grand Slam at the Australian Open. She has also featured in four other finals, including the US Open and the WTA 1000 Indian Wells, and won one other title - at the WTA 1000 Madrid Open.
After putting in a year's worth of top performances, Sabalenka reflected on her achievement of reaching the No. 1 ranking.
“Becoming a World No. 1, it's a huge improvement, and achievement, actually. I'm really proud of myself that all those years I have been working so hard helped me to become World No. 1,” Aryna Sabalenka said in her recent US Open press conference.
The 25-year-old, however, noted that her quest doesn’t end here. While she currently holds a 1071-point lead over World No. 2 Iga Swiatek, she said that her main goal is to end the year as the World No. 1.
“But, you know, for me it's more about end the year as World No. 1, not just like become No. 1 and then next week you're second. It's good so that I can say I have been World No. 1, but I really would like to finish the year as No. 1. That's why I'm still positive, and I'm still motivated,” she said.
