BCE

NEW YORK (AP) — Aryna Sabalenka knows it's going to be hard to get over the sting of a loss to Coco Gauff in the U.S. Open final.

That's why, right after Gauff's 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory, Sabalenka was reminding herself that when she wakes up Monday morning, she will be No. 1 in the WTA rankings for the first time.

“That’s why probably I’m not super depressed right now. I’m definitely going to be,” Sabalenka said. "I’m definitely going for a drink tonight — if I’m allowed to say that.”

Sabalenka learned in 2023 to handle the nerves and negative thoughts that sometimes plagued her in the biggest tournaments earlier in her career, showing how far she had come by rallying from a set and 5-3 down to beat Madison Keys in the semifinals Thursday.

“I’m really proud of myself that all those years I have been working so hard helped me to become world No. 1,” Sabalenka said.

Still, when the native of Belarus thought of her family who were let down by her defeat, Sabalenka couldn't hide the hurt.

“They’ve been awake and watching,” she said, fighting back tears during the trophy celebration. “Sorry for this result.”

For a while, the match was looking like so many Sabalenka played in the majors this year. She entered with a 23-2 record, highlighted by the Australian Open title, as even the top players seemed helpless against her power.

The 25-year-old pounced on Gauff early, breaking her serve three times while winning the first set in 40 minutes. But the No. 6-seeded American kept running down balls and forcing Sabalenka to hit an extra shot, and too many of them started flying long of the baseline or wide of the sideline.

“Definitely she was moving just unbelievable today,” Sabalenka said. “But then the second set I started