Aryna Sabalenka continues her fine run at Grand Slams by reaching the French Open final.
The Belarusian booked her spot in Saturday’s championship match by ending Iga Swiatek’s 26-match winning run in Paris.
She has now reached her third successive Grand Slam final and is the first woman to achieve this feat since Serena Williams in 2016.
Aryna Sabalenka now has a chance to win the French Open for the first time in her career and further prove why she is the WTA Tour’s World number one.
Andy Roddick says what keeps happening to Aryna Sabalenka that is ‘wrong’
Sabalenka has improved her game significantly since the start of the 2023 season.
Since then she has become the World number one and claimed three Grand Slam championship titles.
The 27-year-old was renowned for her power and aggression on court, but Andy Roddick has been watching her closely and thinks she deserves more credit for her strategy and approach to winning matches.
“I think she is the favourite for any tournament she is in right now,” Roddick said via his ‘Served’ podcast. “She is just so good. And she is finding new ways to win. She hits a little chip drop shot now. We don’t give her enough credit. It’s like we have one narrative about players, commentators that she hits it so hard.
“She has learnt how to hit backhand both ways, learnt how to hit chips, she knows how to hit drop shots now, she comes in a little bit more. She is so much better than she was when she was already really good three years ago.
“It’s testament to her work ethic. I don’t know if it gets talked about enough, because she is so unserious about herself when she answers questions. I don’t think we give her credit for being a strategist and a competitor, like if she doesn’t take herself seriously why should we? I think that’s wrong.
“I think once she gets between the lines she has a nice offset and a very clear separation. But don’t get it twisted, she competes her a— off. She finds ways to win matches. And by the way she probably has the best base settings in the world right now.”
Aryna Sabalenka surpasses Iga Swiatek on special list after beating her at the French Open
Sabalenka defeated Iga Swiatek 7-6, 4-6, 6-0 to win their French Open semi-final.
This was the top seed’s fifth career win against the Pole, who will now go a full year without lifting a title.
Following that victory, Sabalenka has become the player with the most appearances in Women’s Singles Grand Slam finals this decade.
She now has six to her name, surpassing Swiatek who has five, four of which have come at the French Open.
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