It has taken a lot to stop Aryna Sabalenka this year. After claiming titles in Abu Dhabi and Madrid and reaching the last four at Wimbledon and the US Open, the powerful Belarusian arrived in Indian Wells as the world number two and – in Ash Barty’s absence – early tournament favourite. But Sabalenka’s hopes of a first title in the California desert have been quashed by a bout of Covid-19, and she is now self-isolating in a Palm Springs hotel room until 11 October.
Has it slowed her down? Not noticeably. In a characteristically vivacious live broadcast on Instagram, Sabalenka appeared to be in good spirits as she fielded questions from fans about everything from her plans for the remainder of the season to her favourite grand slam and the global nature of the WTA Tour. Admitting to a sense of restlessness, the 23-year-old said she was itching to return to the court and begin her preparations for the WTA Finals, which will be held in the Mexican city of Guadalajara next month.
“I’m feeling fine, just tired being under quarantine and doing nothing,” said Sabalenka, who is alone following the departure of her team. “Hopefully from tomorrow, or maybe the day after tomorrow, I can start training a little bit here, so it’s not going to be that boring.
“I’m feeling better, but a little bit weird because I cannot feel anything, I cannot eat anything because I don’t feel any taste, I cannot smell anything – which is maybe good, because I’m under quarantine! At least I have a window, so I can open it and smell fresh air, so this is good.
“It’s so beautiful outside. I wanna play, I want to play a tournament. I’m like tired of just practising or doing nothing, I need to go outside and play. Why couldn’t they just isolate me from the other players and let me play? I would just keep [my] distance and stay away from everybody … but I guess it’s not working well, because I’ll still touch the same balls, and that’s dangerous.”
Sabalenka, whose absence from the BNP Paribas Open marks a further blow for a tournament already hit by the withdrawals of world No 1 Barty and former champions Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams, is among a number of top players who have publicly expressed reservations about Covid vaccination. “So far I don’t really trust it,” she said in March, although she added that she would give the issue thought and seek medical advice on the best available options. It seems she may now be coming around to the idea, albeit hesitantly.
“When I will take a vaccine? It’s a good question,” mused Sabalenka. “Maybe after the season. It’s a good question, I don’t know.”
Covid allowing, she is more certain about her participation in Guadalajara. “I’m really looking forward for the WTA Finals,” said the Belarusian. “For the moment, I’m not really ready. But hopefully I will be ready. When I get back home, I’ll practise a lot – like all day long, harder than ever.”
With that goal in mind, Sabalenka will miss the finals of the Billie Jean King Cup, which begins in Prague on 1 November. “It’s the end of the season and I’m a little bit tired, I got Covid, and [the Billie Jean King] Cup is in Europe and then I have to fly to Mexico to play WTA Finals. I just don’t want to get sick after the season. So unfortunately I’m not ready to play this year.
“I’m really disappointed with this and really sad, because I really love to play [the Billie Jean King] Cup. I would say everything started with the Cup for me, because I was able to play my first big match there and to understand my level. That was a huge moment for me, and for my career, so I’m really sad.”
Reflecting on the broader nature of the WTA Tour – “friendly girls, everyone is really nice” – Sabalenka said all the grand slams were special, but named the US Open as her favourite. A preferred destination on the circuit proved more difficult to pin down, however.
“I like every country, because [there’s] something special in each country,” explained Sabalenka. “It’s impossible to say, ‘No, I don’t like this country and I like this country,’ because there is always something good about a country and also something bad. It’s always like this.”
With 43 match wins this season, Sabalenka willingness to embrace the peripatetic nature of life on tour has served her well. Only Ons Jabeur, the first player to contact Sabalenka with get-well-soon wishes following her Covid diagnosis, has more victories under her belt this season.
“Ons Jabeur is the best,” said Sabalenka. “She was the first one who texted me – saying, ‘Stay safe, girl’ – with the best wishes.”
Sabalenka speaks…
On watching tennis: “Do I enjoy watching tennis in my free time? It’s a lot of tennis in my life. No, no. For real, yeah, I like to watch some matches. But like, all day long is tennis on my TV? No, not really.”
On her favourite food: “For the moment, nothing. But in normal life, before I got Covid – I think I will separate my life right now, before Covid and after Covid – so, before Covid, pizza, pasta, good meat, some sugar for sure, I don’t know, some cookies. But what’s my favourite food right now? Nothing, because I cannot taste anything.”
On her favourite major: “It’s really a tough question, because every grand slam is like something special – but for sure, the US Open.”