Aryna Sabalenka said she is "focusing on herself" rather than the possibility of being dethroned as the world number one ahead of the beginning of her Wimbledon campaign. 

Sabalenka returns to SW19 on Monday and faces Serbian qualifier Teodora Kostovic in her first round match as she looks to win the Wimbledon title for the first time. 

The 28-year-old has reached the semi-finals at the All England Club three times, including last year, where she lost in three sets to beaten finalist Amanda Anisimova.

Since winning the Miami Open in March, Sabalenka has struggled for consistency, particularly on clay. She failed to go beyond the quarter-finals at the Madrid, Italian and French Open. The latter event saw her dumped out by Diana Shnaider in the last eight. 

At the Berlin Open, she lost in the semi-finals to Jessica Pegula 4-6 7-6 (7-4) 0-6. Since the WTA rankings were published in 1975, Sabalenka became the first world number one to be bageled in a deciding set at multiple and consecutive WTA-level events. 

There is the possibility that Sabalenka's reign as the world number one could come to an end at Wimbledon, with 2022 champion Elena Rybakina within striking distance. 

Rybakina must reach at least the quarter-finals to have any chance of overtaking Sabalenka, but the Belarusian insisted that her full focus remained on her own game. 

"I'm focusing on myself, my story," Sabalenka said. "Hopefully, by the end of this tournament I can stay on top of the game."

Wimbledon will be Sabalenka's seventh consecutive Grand Slam appearance as the top seed. Since 2000, only Serena Williams (15), Iga Swiatek (11) and Martina Hingis (eight) have had more consecutive women's singles major appearances as the number one seed. 

Monday mood pic.twitter.com/x2hJiIx3M0

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 22, 2026

After her quarter-final exit at Roland-Garros, Sabalenka admitted she was in a difficult place and had considered quitting tennis altogether. 

Sabalenka's run in Berlin was the first time she had got back on the court since the French Open after she decided to take a short break from the sport to recharge. 

And she revealed that she had spoken with a sports psychologist during her time away from tennis, and she said that it is something she will continue to do moving forward. 

"I feel like it's mostly about the mental part of the game. I contacted her," Sabalenka added.

"I didn't want to find someone else because you have to go through the whole story, you have to tell your whole story, make the other person understand you deeper.

"I went to a person who knows me really well. For now we're working again.

"I just feel like I need someone to throw all of my thoughts to clear my head ahead of a big tournament.

"My team and I chat a lot but sometimes you have things you don't want to throw at your team. It's really important to have someone you can talk to and feel safe with."