Aryna Sabalenka couldn’t hide her surprise when she stepped foot in Cincinnati this week. The defending champion, fresh off her Wimbledon loss, was greeted by a venue that had undergone a complete transformation.
“Oh my god. The first moment I came here I was like, Where am I?” Sabalenka laughed after her 7-5, 6-1 victory over Marketa Vondrousova. “It’s a completely different tournament. It’s an impressive job done. And just wow. Everything is so confusing, little by little I am getting used to it.”
The Cincinnati Open, now boasting major upgrades to its facilities, has made a big impression on players. Aryna Sabalenka had nothing but praise, well, almost nothing. Okay, there was just one thing she would like Cincinnati to upgrade.
“My only one request,” she grinned, “we need to make sure the dining room is a bit bigger. Next year please make sure there’s more space in the dining room. Everyone likes to eat. Everyone likes to spend time there. So please, we need big rooms. But other than that, oh my gosh, it’s even more enjoyable to be here.”
On court, the World No. 1 looked right at home despite the changes around her. Her straight-sets win over Wimbledon champion Vondrousova marked her sixth consecutive victory in Cincinnati, a streak that dates back to last year’s title run.
Interestingly enough, it was in this very city where Sabalenka found the form that carried her to her first U.S. Open crown.
The opening set against Vondrousova was a tight battle, with both players making the most of each other’s errors. However, Sabalenka took the edge.
The revamped Cincinnati tournament has drawn plenty of attention not just for its player field but for its upgraded experience. And while she hopes for a slightly larger dining room in the future, she’s already embracing the changes.
“Everything feels new, exciting, and fresh,” she said. “It’s a good vibe to start the hard-court season.”
Now, if history is to looked at, Sabalenka’s strong start in Cincinnati could very well be the first step toward another Grand Slam summer.