Sabalenka reveals she got vaccinated after positive test forced her out of the BNP Paribas Open

After traveling to Indian Wells for the BNP Paribas Open in October, Aryna Sabalenka was eager to get back on the court. However, arriving to tournaments is a much different process now. Players can't simply check in and go to the practice court due to the on-going pandemic.

The COVID-19 test is filled with anxiety and something players must provide a negative result—in order to vie for trophies each week. Will I test negative? What if I don't? These are the daunting questions left to ponder while waiting for results. An added factor that all must endure.

Sabalenka didn't pass the test that week in Indian Wells and tested positive, which meant she was confined to her hotel room for ten days. The tournament's No.1 seed was forced to withdraw and it's something that left a lasting impact.

Ahead of her WTA Finals campaign, Sabalenka opened up about the experience and her recent decision to get vaccinated.

"Well for four days, I was really sick," Sabalenka told press in Guadalajara. "I couldn't move. After four days, it was all about the quarantine. I think maybe on day six I could already go out and maybe do some jogging or start to do some preparation, but, yeah, I couldn't go out.

"I stay in the room for 10 days. I was doing some workout there, but it wasn't enough. It's not so much space, you cannot move. You just stay in one place and do floor exercise. Honestly, it's not really helping that much."

The experience was eye-opening for the world No. 2 who doesn't want to go through it again. The incident saw her get vaccinated shortly after.

"I think I'm clear right now because in Miami I did the vaccine, Johnson and Johnson. I think I safe from... I don't know. Hopefully I'm safe because I don't want to stay on the quarantine anymore. It's not a lot of fun," she said.

The top seed at the WTA Finals is set to face Paula Badosa on Thursday.