Aryna Sabalenka kept it straight honest after a shock Dubai loss, revealing that she simply doesn’t feel well in the Middle East and admitted that for some reason she “does not feel hungry” when competing in tournaments at this part of the year.
On Wednesday, the top seed exited Dubai in the round-of-16 after world No. 38 Clara Tauson dominated her 6-3 6-2.
Last week, the three-time Grand Slam champion saw her run in Doha and after only one match played and an upset loss to Ekaterina Alexandrova.
For Sabalenka, to go just 1-2 in the opening two WTA 1000 tournaments of the season is all but a good result.
But the 26-year-old struggling in the Middle East isn’t anything new.
Since winning Abu Dhabi in 2021, the Belarusian hasn’t made any semifinals during the Middle East Swing and she has especially struggled in Doha and Dubai.
Sabalenka: I’m all over the place and not consistent, I’m making wrong decisions
“I’d say that for the last couple of years, I’m not doing well in the Middle East,” the world No. 1 acknowledged after the Tauson loss.
“I believe we need to change something in the preparation … because every time I don’t feel well playing here.
“Even health-wise I’m struggling. Australia always taking a lot of energy out of me.
“I believe that I’m not that hungry on court. I’m kind of like all over the place in my thoughts and not consistent. The decisions I’m making on the court are a bit wrong and emotionally I’m not on my best.”
At the start of her Middle East swing in Doha, Sabalenka publicly stated that she didn’t have many expectations.
But still, no one could imagine that it would go this bad for the Belarusian.
The world No. 1 will now try to forget what happened in the last two weeks and focus on correcting things in Indian Wells and Miami.