The 2024 WTA Finals did not go as planned for world number 1 Aryna Sabalenka. The top seed lost her final group stage match to Elena Rybakina on Wednesday and was knocked out of the semifinals by Coco Gauff on Friday.

Although she ended her season on a sour note with two consecutive defeats, the 26-year-old is happy with what she has accomplished 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 picked up the WTA 2024 year-end ranking No. 1 in the world.

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

Thus, after her defeat against Gauff on Friday, Sabalenka gave a positive assessment of her 2024 season. The current muse of women’s tennis sat on the podium in Riyadh, her hair still wet from the post-match shower , to answer questions that required introspection.

“I believe 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 world No. 1. I’m finishing the year No. 1 in the world, like something I wanted last year and didn’t achieve,” Sabalenka said.

She continued: “So yeah, I’m super excited for next year and I just want to push myself in these extra moments that I had this season, and I didn’t close out matches; 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 just 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 for some well-deserved rest and relaxation, Gauff will face Qinwen Zheng in the final match of the WTA Finals on Saturday, November 9. Tennis fans can follow the Sports Illustrated show. Serve on IF for all the most important sports news.