Sabalenka warns Swiatek: "It's one of my goals".

Aryna Sabalenka is on a mission.

Since the end of the summer, the Belarusian has been on cloud nine with a string of top-class performances.

After winning back-to-back titles in Cincinnati and the US Open, she has no intention of stopping there.

Sabalenka has a golden opportunity at the WTA 1000 in Beijing, which kicked off on Wednesday.

With Swiatek's withdrawal, a title in Beijing would allow her to return to the world throne.

Interviewed at the press conference, she declared: "Ending the year as world number one is one of my goals, but I'm trying not to focus on that, but rather on my tennis.

There are only three tournaments left, and I want to give my all on the court.

After the season, I'll see if that's enough to finish the year as world number one, or what I need to improve on to do so.

Being called the best player in the world means a lot.

All my life, I've worked hard to reach the Top 100, then the Top 50, the Top 10 and finally the Top 2.

It's nice to know you haven't wasted your time with all those hours of training."