TENNIS: Sabalenka confident ahead of US Open

TORONTO — World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka said she is optimistic about returning to top form on hard courts as she prepares for the North American swing leading up to the U.S. Open.

Speaking ahead of the Canadian Open in Toronto, the 28-year-old Belarusian said she has high hopes for the upcoming tournaments after falling short of expectations during the clay and grass court seasons.

Sabalenka reached the Australian Open final in January but was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the French Open and failed to advance beyond the fourth round at Wimbledon.

She said she and her team have returned to the fundamentals of her game, focusing on her aggressive baseline style that has brought her success on hard courts.

“I have huge hopes,” Sabalenka told reporters. “We’re kind of back to the basics, and I really hope it’s going to work out well on the hard court again.”

Sabalenka added that the transition to the U.S. hard-court season can be physically demanding, particularly for players who make deep runs during the grass-court campaign.

She admitted that fatigue often affects players after Wimbledon but joked that her earlier exit this year gave her more time to recover.

After taking time to rest, Sabalenka said she feels refreshed both physically and mentally and is eager to return to competition.

In addition to competing in singles, Sabalenka will partner Novak Djokovic in the mixed doubles event at the U.S. Open, which begins before the singles tournament starts on Aug. 30.

She said she is excited about teaming up with the Serbian star and hopes they can contend for the title.

Sabalenka also voiced support for the Women's Tennis Association's updated eligibility policy, which will require players to complete a one-time gene test to compete on the women's tour.

She said the measure is important to ensure fairness in women's tennis, citing biological differences between men and women.

Last December, Sabalenka played an exhibition "Battle of the Sexes" match against Nick Kyrgios in Dubai, where she lost in straight sets in an event that drew mixed reactions from fans and critics. -Reporting by Nicole Fernandes in Toronto; editing by Clare Fallon/Reuters