Sabalenka ‘ready for the pressure’

Sabalenka was also the top seed for her tilt at a third straight Australian Open title in January when she fell just short, against Madison Keys, of becoming the first three-peat champion at Melbourne Park since Martina Hingis 26 years ago.

This top billing in Paris is uncharted territory, yet she maintains her typical jovial antics in practice and around the grounds – often at her patient members’ expense – a welcome reassurance this is business as usual.

“Honestly, preparation-wise, there is no difference. Mentally, and like in my head, there is no difference,” Sabalenka said. “It honestly doesn't matter your ranking when you arrive in the big tournaments, as we see in the past. There is so many crazy upsets happening.

“So ranking doesn't really matter anymore. I'm just trying to focus on my game, and nowadays I know I can do well on clay, so arriving here I feel really strong and super excited, and hopefully this is going to be the year when I'm really going to be proud of myself on the clay court.”

Following a runner-up showing in Stuttgart on clay, Sabalenka netted a third Madrid title earlier this month – her run to the decider made her the first player since Hingis in 2001 to reach six WTA finals in the first four months of a season – before a quarter-final exit to Zheng Qinwen in Rome.

While her great rival Iga Swiatek, a four-time champion in Paris, was still searching for a first trophy of the season, Sabalenka chose to embrace her new-found favouritism on a surface she has typically found the most challenging.

“I just love it so much, because just for me personally, knowing that there is someone chasing me, or I have a target on my back right now, I love it,” she said. “I take it as a challenge. Every time I go out there, I feel like, okay, let's go. Let's see who is ready for the pressure moments. I take it like that, and it's actually helping me to stay in the moment and to fight, no matter what, on the court.”

First up, Kamilla Rakhimova and should the draw hold up, Sabalenka could land a quarter-final rematch against Rome conqueror Zheng before a potential semi-final against Swiatek.

In practice leading in, there was clearly little concern for keeping her cards close to her chest ahead of potential second-week match-ups.

Among her sparring partners in recent days were Swiatek, smooth-striking Karolina Muchova – the Czech who saved match points against her in the 2023 semi-final – and good friend, three-time major finalist Ons Jabeur.

The world No.1 is ready to do herself proud on the clay in Paris.

“I think at this point of my career it's all about winning the titles, the big trophies, and I think you have to set up really huge goals for yourself,” she said. “Maybe sometimes really crazy goals. I'm more into, winning than just reaching the finals, because losing in the final sucks, I hate it, so that's not the goal for me.”