Aryna Sabalenka responds after Jessica Pegula explains why she’s so good

Aryna Sabalenka has replied to recent remarks made by Jessica Pegula.

Sabalenka picked up a 6-4, 6-4 win over Hailey Baptiste at the Miami Open as she continued her pursuit of the Sunshine Double. Meanwhile, it wasn’t a great day for Pegula, who suffered defeats in both singles and doubles.

Sabalenka responds after Pegula praises her and Rybakina’s composure under pressure

Pegula has now lost nine of her last 10 matches against Sabalenka and Rybakina, and after the match she explained what the pair do so well.

“I mean, I feel like they’re just so confident right now in, like, big pressure points,” Pegula said in her press conference. “I mean, the amount of times they go for big second serves, or they go for big returns, or they hit a big one-two punch, like serve-first ball-rip a winner on a break point.

“Like it takes a lot of confidence to do that. And I feel like those points – they’re just playing really confident. At least when I played Aryna a lot over the last couple years, and now Elena quite a lot in the last couple months.”

When those comments were put to Sabalenka during her own press conference, she agreed with Pegula’s assessment. She explained how remaining composed under pressure has been a key area of improvement for her.

“Over the years I have really improved in focusing on the right things,” said Sabalenka.

“Under pressure [and] still being able to focus on the game plan and not take it too far [by being] too emotional – that’s why she can feel that way.”

Sabalenka is scheduled to face Anhelina Kalinina next at the Miami Open this Saturday.

Aryna Sabalenka explains how she feels about playing Elena Rybakina in the semifinals instead of the final

Sabalenka will face world number two Rybakina in the semifinals, following her win over Baptiste.

Rybakina, though now ranked second in the world, was still number three when seeding was determined. That’s why she and Sabalenka are meeting earlier than some might have expected.

They’ve already met twice this year – Rybakina won their Australian Open final before Sabalenka responded with a victory in Indian Wells. Asked about facing her again, this time in a semifinal, Sabalenka said it makes no difference to her.

“I don’t feel any different playing her in the quarterfinals or the semis or the final,” responded Sabalenka. “I think for me it’s just the opportunity to become a better player because you know the matches against her are tough matches and you have to bring your tennis and fight for every point.

“I am super excited whenever and it doesn’t matter what stage it is at the tournament. I would prefer to play if we both reached the final because I feel like this is a match where all of that tension is and people have really been enjoying watching us play. I feel even more excited playing her in the finals because it’s the last push.

“It’s like you can give it your all there and this is just one last push so I enjoy playing more in finals but if you ask if I care? I don’t care if it’s semi or final.”

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