The darkish “intense, loopy” days when the likes of Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova bitterly and publicly aired their grievances are lengthy gone, says Aryna Sabalenka. As an example her level, world quantity two Sabalenka will fortunately tackle finest buddy Paula Badosa for a spot within the final 32 of the French Open on Saturday. It is going to be the pair’s seventh assembly however first at a Grand Slam. “It is all the time robust to play your finest buddy on tour,” mentioned Australian Open champion Sabalenka.
“However we all know easy methods to separate court docket and life. So it is all the time an incredible battle. I all the time get pleasure from enjoying towards her.”
She added: “I’d say that proper now the highest 10 gamers are all good with one another, and there aren’t any huge fights exterior of the court docket.
“It isn’t like we’re finest pals, nevertheless it’s not one thing loopy, like intense.”
Ten years or so in the past, such heat was uncommon.
Again in 2013, Williams hit out at a prime 5 participant she described as “boring”.
“She’s not going to be invited to the cool events. And, hey, if she needs to be with the man with a black coronary heart, go for it.”
Williams did not identify Sharapova however the Russian, in addition to most different observers, seen it as a reference to her relationship with Bulgarian tennis participant Grigor Dimitrov.
Sharapova hit again at Williams and her relationship along with her French coach Patrick Mouratoglou.
Elsewhere, the American as soon as arrived at a press convention carrying a shirt that mentioned “Are you taking a look at my titles?”
That was a reference to being ranked quantity two after profitable the Australian Open and Wimbledon whereas Dinara Safina was at primary regardless of by no means claiming a serious.
On the 2012 Australian Open, in the meantime, Polish participant Agnieszka Radwanska criticised Sharapova’s notorious grunting on court docket.
“Is not she again in Poland already?” got here the icy retort from Sharapova after Radwanska’s exit.
There might be no related trash speaking forward of Sabalenka’s conflict with Badosa.
“She has an enormous character, she’s a great lady, all the time bringing good vitality, even on court docket,” mentioned Spanish star Badosa.
“I feel it’ll be enjoyable. After all sharing the court docket along with her in any case these outcomes she’s doing and all it is a pleasure for me.”
Ought to Badosa lose for a fifth successive time towards Sabalenka, she’ll discover help from boyfriend and world quantity 9 Stefanos Tsitsipas, a former runner-up on the French Open.
“I am actually grateful to have somebody like him by my facet. Additionally within the subsequent few days, we will play combined doubles, so additionally sharing the court docket with him, I feel it makes it much more particular.”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Paula Badosa Gibert
French Open 2024
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