Aryna Sabalenka is preparing to defend her Wuhan Open title in China after taking a break in Greece after winning her second consecutive title at the US Open.
The world No. 1 even missed Beijing, the first of two consecutive WTA 1000 tournaments in China, and is now ready to compete in Wuhan after recovering from a "minor injury" in New York.
"I feel good. I just didn't want to rush my preparation for this tournament. So, I think we made the right decision to take the extra time to recover and prepare. Physically, I feel ready to compete," Sabalenka said in a pre-tournament press conference, as quoted by the WTA on Tuesday.
Sabelenka won the Wuhan Open title in 2018, 2019 and 2024 when the tournament returned after five years.
In her final two matches, she defeated Coco Gauff and Zheng Qinwen -- who later played in the final of the WTA Finals in Riyadh -- to improve to a stunning 17-0 in the city on the banks of the Yangtze River.
The success made her a three-time defending champion and the owner of the best dominance in a single WTA event since Serena Williams won 21 consecutive times in Rome from 2012-2019.
Also read: Aldila Sutjiadi leaves for Wuhan after winning WTA 125 Suzhou
Only three women have won four consecutive titles at a single WTA event in the last three decades.
They are Monica Seles at the Canadian Open (1995-1998), Venus Williams at New Haven (1999-2002), and Caroline Wozniacki at New Haven (2008-2011).
Sabalenka is eager to become the fourth female tennis player.
"Do I believe I can win a fourth time? I don't know for sure, but I can assure you that I will do my best, and hopefully I can win this beautiful title again," Sabalenka said.
Later this month, Sabalenka will reach 52 consecutive weeks as the WTA No. 1. She has won more matches (56) and more titles (four) this year than any other woman.
Sabalenka, who has reached three major finals and four semifinals, leads Iga Swiatek by nearly 2,500 points in the overall rankings and 1,500 points in the Race to the WTA Finals in Riyadh.
