The 2024 WTA Finals did not go as planned for World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. The top seed lost her final group match to Elena Rybakina on Wednesday and was eliminated from the semifinals by Coco Gauff on Friday.

Despite ending her season on a sour note with two consecutive losses, the 26-year-old is satisfied with what she achieved this year. Sabalenka finished with a 54-12 record and four singles titles (including the Australian Open and US Open titles). Earlier this week, she assured the 2024 WTA year-end world No. 1 ranking.

Perhaps most importantly, Sabalenka returned from a rare shoulder injury that caused her to miss Wimbledon and the Paris Summer Olympics. Once Sabalenka returned, she played the best tennis of her career.

So after her loss to Gauff on Friday, Sabalenka offered a positive assessment of her 2024 season. The current face of women’s tennis sat on the podium in Riyadh with her hair still wet from her post-match shower to answer questions that required introspection.

“I think I have achieved a lot this season. There is no room for disappointment. I just have to be proud of myself. I won two Grand Slams, I became No. 1 in the world. I finished the year as No. 1 in the world, like something I wanted last year and I didn’t get it,” Sabalenka said.

She continued, “So yeah, I’m really excited for next year and I just want to push myself in those extra moments that I had this season, and I didn’t close out games; I had to close out.”

As for next year, Sabalenka is already thinking about what she needs to improve to defend her title at the 2025 Australian Open in January.

Sabalenka said: “I’m going to keep working on my mentality, keep working on my game and make sure I’m fresh at the start of the season. Make sure I bring my best tennis to Australia again.” “

While Sabalenka returns home to rest and relax, Gauff will face Qinwen Zheng in the final match of the WTA Finals on Saturday, November 9. Tennis fans can follow the Sports Illustrated program. Serve in YES to know the most important sports news.