Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka spoke about her rivalry with Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina, to whom she lost in the US Open final, infohub.kz reports.
"We have a great rivalry. This season we've played many bright matches, including finals. She has an amazing serve. She knows how to step into the court and overwhelm her opponent with her power... There are many qualities that make her very dangerous," Sabalenka said at a press conference after the final match.
Recall that the representative of Kazakhstan defeated Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in the final and became US Open champion for the first time. Previously at the American Grand Slam tournament, Rybakina had never advanced past the fourth round.
The trophy was presented to Rybakina by Maria Sharapova — former world No. 1, champion of all Grand Slam tournaments, and member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
The champion thanked her team, family, and friends for their support. She also addressed Sabalenka, who stood nearby and could not hold back tears during her speech.
Kazakh President Qasym-Jomart Toqaev congratulated Elena Rybakina, saying that all of Kazakhstan is proud of her achievements.