The 17-year-old Russian defeated world number one Aryna Sabalenka to claim the WTA 1000 title in California, solidifying her reputation as a rising star in the sport.
“Right now, I know my goals are still the same — to win more tournaments and become one of the top players,” she said. “But now that I see I’m ranked number six, it’s actually not too bad.”
“I’m really proud of myself for that, but I try not to focus too much on it. I just concentrate on the matches ahead and the tournaments I need to play,” she continued.
“Honestly, lately I’ve been pretty good at not letting it affect me,” she said with a smile.
