Aryna Sabalenka has taken her career to new heights in the last three years.
After recording multiple indifferent Grand Slam seasons from 2017 to 2022, Sabalenka has since claimed four major crowns.
The Belarusian secured two titles at the Australian Open and two at the US Open, while also achieving world number one status.
Sabalenka is seeking to hoist a fifth Grand Slam trophy overall at Melbourne Park this year, where she has just booked her place in the fourth round by beating Anastasia Potapova, 7-6, 7-6.
Following her victory over the Austrian, the 27-year-old was asked about the spin she has added to her forehand in recent years.
Aryna Sabalenka discusses the change she made in her forehand
“Well, yeah, it was a big change,” said Sabalenka in her post-match press conference.
“Before I used to only hit like a flat balls from both sides. It’s a big technical change.
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“But lucky me, I didn’t struggle for so long with this change because probably I was young and I was desperate for some changes. It was pretty easy change.
“But it was massive change in my game, which gave me a lot of benefits in the future.
“So yeah, it’s like technical plus, like, mentally you have to be ready, like you have to be open for a new thing to be able to change it.”
Aryna Sabalenka says the women’s game is taking a lot from the men’s
Sabalenka said that women on the WTA Tour are hitting with more spin in general nowadays.
She explained: “I think it’s changing. I think we’re taking a lot from men’s. Heavy shot with the spin, it’s much more aggressive than just a flat ball.
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“It’s not that easy to… how you say… to block it. I don’t know how to say it, to accept the ball.”
In her next match at the Australian Open, Sabalenka will take on teenage sensation Victoria Mboko.
She has never faced the Canadian at a tour-level event before.
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