Aryna Sabalenka further cemented her status as the most dominant force on hard courts with her imposing US Open triumph last week.
After a superb campaign on US soil with back-to-back titles in Cincinnati and New York, Sabalenka is widely regarded as the best hard-court player on the WTA Tour.
The world number two has extended her win streak to 12 and is the tour’s hottest player heading into the Asian swing.
Despite glimpses of a fightback from Jessica Pegula in the second set of the US Open final, Sabalenka cruised to her third grand slam title.
However, things weren’t always so straightforward for the Belarusian in her dazzling career.
Gavin MacMillan outlines improvements Aryna Sabalenka has made
Aryna Sabalenka has been a consistent threat in and around the world’s top 10 since the back end of 2018, but something was preventing her from pushing on and becoming the elite player she is today.
The start of the 2022 season will go down as a period that the 26-year-old will be keen to forget.
Sabalenka came out in Australia and served an extremely high number of double faults across her matches, eventually reducing the Belarusian to tears as she attempted to roll them in underarm, appearing lost on the court.
Gavin MacMillan soon joined Sabalenka’s team as her biomechanics coach with the task of tweaking her technique.
“I don’t think people grasp what it’s like as an athlete to have to walk out into a stadium full of people, knowing you’re not performing well, and you’re still fighting your ass off,” MacMillan told Talking Tennis. “That’s what I respected about her the most. It’s also how I knew it had nothing to do with mental [side].
“Her serve has improved dramatically [since then], but it’s also her forehand and everything else. Honestly, I think she’s just getting started.
“I don’t think she necessarily played her best on Saturday [US Open final], but she definitely fought her best, and when it really hit the fan, she really trusted what she has been doing.”
Sabalenka eyes number one spot after US Open triumph
Sabalenka has come a tremendously long way since then and, with the help of MacMillan, her serve is now a potent weapon.
After comprehensively beating Iga Swiatek in Cincinnati and claiming the title in New York, the world number two has established herself as the favorite to clinch the prestigious WTA Finals for what would be the first time in her career.
However, Sabalenka has claimed that her biggest goal for the rest of the year is to reclaim the number one spot in the rankings, something that has eluded her since October 2023.
Now, with her confidence sky-high after adding a third crown to her grand slam resume, the explosive Belarusian looks primed to leapfrog her Polish rival.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
