"I think physically I’m ready to go": Aryna Sabalenka eyes success on clay after Miami Open triumph

World number one Aryna Sabalenka has stated that she is ‘ready to go’ after lifting the Miami Open. The 26-year-old is regarded as one of the best players currently playing in women’s tennis in the singles category, along with the likes of Poland’s Iga Swiatek and America’s Coco Gauff.

Sabalenka recently had an impressive outing at the WTA 1000 event in Miami, where she lifted the title after beating America’s Jessica Pegula in the final in straight sets with a score of 7-5, 6-2. It was her eighth WTA 1000 title in her career and third in the last two years. Talking after that triumph, the Minsk-born star stated that she is feeling ‘ready to go’ for glory on the clay surface.

“I think physically I’m ready to go,” she said. “Physically I’m strong, and I’m not rushing the point and I know I can stay in the point for how long I need. I think that’s the key because I think I have got everything to be a good player on the clay court. So I think that we’re gonna focus on. I haven’t talked to my team. But I can assume we’re going to focus on my fitness.”

Last year, Sabalenka had an impressive run on clay court but did not win a single tournament. She played in four events and finished as a runner-up twice. She lost in the final of the Rome Masters to the world number two Iga Swiatek in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-3. Then, she also lost in the final of the Madrid Open to the same player with a score of 7-5, 4-6, 7-6. Sabalenka had a decent outing at the French Open as well, but her journey ended in the quarterfinals stage where she lost to Russia’s young tennis sensation Mirra Andreeva with a score of 6-7, 6-4, 6-4.