Aryna Sabalenka is having yet another special season on the WTA Tour.
2024 was her best yet, as the Belarusian claimed two Grand Slam titles and regained the World number one ranking.
Those around the tennis world were keen to see if Sabalenka could carry that form and momentum into the 2025.
The 27-year-old is certainly doing that and she has lost just one match on clay so far this year, and is searching for a fourth title of the season at the ongoing Italian Open.
Andy Roddick gives Aryna Sabalenka a very high form of praise
Aryna Sabalenka has proven why she is the undisputed WTA World number one.
Since the start of 2024, Sabalenka has claimed seven titles, three of which are Grand Slam championships.
Even in the events she does not lift the title, Sabalenka almost always reaches at least the semi-finals, and this is due to her improved all-round game, strong resilience and mentality on court.
This is something Andy Roddick is incredibly impressed by, and he thinks Sabalenka is illustrating skills that are greater than any other male or female player in the world.
“She saves a set point with a screaming winner down the line, and the next one she is feathering some touch cross at a huge moment,” Roddick said via the Tennis Channel live podcast.
“Sabalenka might be the most match tough person on Earth right now, men or women. She gets into those gritty moments in matches, and it feels like her living room. It’s what she does every week and she comes up good most of the time right now.
“With a different variety, because she is so good at the power that is what takes most of the conversation but her ability to problem solve, she is getting better of the corners on defence.
“She flashes the tough sometimes. Let’s not ignore the other points in her game, it has come full circle in the last couple of years.”
Jim Courier agrees with Andy Roddick’s view on Aryna Sabalenka
Sabalenka has reached the final in six of the eight completed tournaments she has entered so far this season.
She is aiming for a seventh at the Italian Open, and she is the favourite to take the title at the Foro Italico, especially with defending champion Iga Swiatek’s early exit in Rome.
The WTA’s World number one is looking extremely difficult to beat and Jim Courier shared the same point of view as Roddick about Sabalenka’s level of play.
“I think you have to and I think you also have to say mad respect given what she went through in Australia when she was so close to winning there for the third time and Madi Keys just outplayed her at the tape,” Courier explained.
“It has been spectacular to watch her bounce back. Also Andreeva at Indian Wells, she has bounced back from there. So she is not only match tough, she has bounced back and that is like her strength right now.”
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