Aryna Sabalenka has undoubtedly been one of if not the best-performing women in 2024.
And, with the tour coming to a conclusion soon, it’ll be intriguing to see if she crowns that notion by stealing the year-end number-one spot off Iga Swiatek.
Few would argue against that being the case, given how revolutionary her year has been.
Cruising to two Grand Slam titles, and battling through plenty of injury turmoil too, many might seek to question how the 26-year-old has masterminded this turnaround after such a topsy-turvy 2023.
Well, she has since revealed how the failures of the past are now fuelling her present-day success.
Aryna Sabalenka reflects on 2023 US Open final defeat
Speaking to the press after her impressive battling win over Qinwen Zheng, the Belarusian revelled in yet another title claimed in 2024.
It has been a remarkable year for Aryna Sabalenka, who continues to go from strength to strength, and it’s quite remarkable how someone once famed for their mental fragility is now one of the leaders in the sport.
Reacting to having to deal with an opposition crowd, when perhaps clashing with the hometown favourite, facing the Chinese number one in China arguably doesn’t get much tougher.
But, she was able to channel one notorious failure from last year to rewrite those mistakes: ‘I’m not really focusing on the crowd when they’re against me anymore. I don’t really hear them. I’m just focusing on myself and my team.
‘I’m trying to stay focused and keep thinking what I have to do on court, like just thinking about tactics, technical issues. Yeah, that’s it.
‘I think that match against Coco [in the US Open final] last year gave me a lot. I’m actually really glad I lost that match because I think it was better for me.
‘I learned a lot. Right now, if the crowd is against me, I’m okay with that. I don’t really hear them. I’m focusing on different things, yeah.’
Aryna Sabalenka went from mentally fragile to the strongest in the sport
As noted earlier, Sabalenka’s mental turnaround has been nothing short of sensational, and has transformed her from a player just capable of challenging into one of the most dominant tennis stars on the planet.
When on form, few can compete with her blistering ball-striking, yet she would get the perfect chance to show off her newfound mental fortitude last week too in the final.
Coming under increasing pressure from a resurgent opponent, and as the crowd were building too, she did not buckle. That was, even despite Zheng’s behaviour drawing scrutiny too.
Having taken the lead in that aforementioned US Open final against Gauff, before losing the second set and subsequently crumbling, the similarities were clear in Wuhan.
And yet, having lost that second set too, she refocused, cruising to the title in the third and exorcising her demons of the past.
Roddick has predicted whether Sabalenka or Swiatek will end the year as world number one, and his answer will likely delight the former.
With the physical power to trouble all opponents, and her mental game now on top form too, it’s a wonder who could possibly trouble her in 2025.
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