World No. 1 discusses her motivation and the need for fair Grand Slam prize money
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has shared her настрое as she prepares for the Stuttgart tournament. Reflecting on past experiences, Sabalenka mentioned, “I`ve lost three finals to the world`s top-ranked players – once to Ashleigh Barty and twice to Iga Swiatek.”
Now arriving in Stuttgart as the top seed, she feels a unique determination. “There`s a special feeling this time. Those three tough matches are still with me, fueling a fire within. If I reach the final again here, my hunger for victory and my concentration will be stronger than ever,” Sabalenka stated during a press conference.
Furthermore, the Belarusian player voiced her support for the Top-20 players` initiative to increase prize money at Grand Slam events. “We create the show, and I believe we deserve a larger percentage of the revenue from Grand Slam tournaments. When you compare it to other sports like the NHL or NBA, the difference in prize money share is significant. I don`t want to delve too deeply into comparisons, but I`m certain we deserve a fairer distribution at every tournament.”
