Aryna Sabalenka has revealed she had been told she did not have any confidence to play on clay courts, Afrosport reports.
The world number one did not have solid form on clay at the start of her career but began to pick when she reached the finals of the WTA events in Stuttgart and Madrid in 2021, winning the latter 1000 tournament.
The 27-year-old would go on to have a running rivalry with Swiatek, meeting the Polish star in the Stuttgart final in 2022 and 2023, losing both. She however defeated Swiatek in the Madrid final in 2023 but lost to the Pole the following year at the same event and also in Rome.
Sabalenka reached the final in Stuttgart this year but lost to Latvian Jelena Ostapenko before defeating Coco Gauff in Madrid.
The three-time Grand Slam champion bagged arguably her biggest win on clay when she defeated former world number one Swiatek 7-6 (7-1), 4-6, 6-0 in Thursday’s French Open semi-final and will face Gauff in Saturday’s final.
Speaking after the two hours, 22 minutes battle, Sabalenka said: “Well, it’s going to mean everything to me and my team, because I have to say that almost like [my) whole life I’ve been told that it [clay surface] is not my thing, and then I didn’t have any confidence.
“In the past, I don’t know how many years, we’ve been able to develop my game so much, so I feel really comfortable on this surface and actually enjoy playing on clay.”
The Belarusian added: “I have to say that for the clay I got better, much better physically.
“I think it’s really important on clay to be physically strong and ready to work for each point.
“If I’ll be able to get this trophy, it’s just going to mean the world for us.
“I’m ready to go in that final and to fight, fight for every point and give everything I have to give to get the win.”
Aryna Sabalenka opens up about what winning Roland-Garros would mean to her and her team during her press conference
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Swiatek, speaking after her defeat said: “Now it’s probably not the best time to look at the wider perspective. So probably it wasn’t a bad tournament, but obviously not the result I wanted.”
Thursday’s defeat denied Swiatek to chance to win a fourth-consecutive French Open title, and also ended her 26-match winning streak at Roland Garros.
