(Beijing) The new queen of the women’s circuit, Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, said she was “super motivated” at the idea of ​​defending her place as world number one on Friday, before the start of the WTA 1000 tournament in Beijing.

“It’s good to have achieved this goal,” said the 25-year-old, who dethroned Poland’s Iga Swiatek in September. “But there is another, and I am super motivated,” she added, in response to a question from AFP.

The challenge is “to finish the year as world number one and to stay there as long as possible,” explained the Belarusian. “My goal here in Beijing is to play my best tennis,” she said.

Although beaten in the US Open final by American Coco Gauff in early September, Sabalenka had collected enough points to overtake Swiatek, who had been at the top of the rankings for almost a year and a half.

Shortly after this declaration, the Belarusian recorded good news with the defeat of her Polish rival in the quarters of the WTA 500 tournament in Tokyo.

The two champions will meet again from this weekend in Beijing, where the women’s circuit is making its comeback after the long hiatus of COVID-19, but also the suspension of all Chinese tournaments by the WTA in support of Peng Shuai .

(Beijing) American Coco Gauff said Friday there were “still a lot of questions” about Peng Shuai’s situation, as international women’s tennis returns to Beijing this week for the first time since the player’s revelations Chinese.

Peng, a former world No.1 in doubles, disappeared from the public eye for weeks in late 2021 after accusing former Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault.

She later reemerged and denied the allegations, but the episode prompted the WTA to pull its tournaments from China pending an independent investigation.

However, the governing body of world women’s tennis made an about-face this year and is now hosting the China Open in Beijing, a WTA 1000 tournament.

Asked by AFP on Friday about Peng’s case, Gauff said the situation was “worrying when it happened” and that there remained “many questions.”

“As far as my safety here is concerned, the hospitality I have received so far has been truly wonderful,” said the young American prodigy, crowned in September at the US Open, at a press conference. .

“I didn’t feel any insecurity… but obviously I wish (Peng) the best and I hope she does well,” added the 19-year-old.

The China Open is taking place for the first time since 2019, after Beijing implemented a years-long isolationist zero COVID-19 policy.

The boycott of the WTA was therefore considered largely symbolic, because this government policy deprived the country of most major international sporting events.

The organization said in April it would reinstate its tournaments in China, even though Peng’s situation had “shown no signs of change.”

“We concluded that we will never be able to fully achieve these goals, and it is our players and our tournaments who, ultimately, would pay an extraordinary price for their sacrifices,” explained the WTA.