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Throwbacks

The ‘unnecessary’ part of Aryna Sabalenka’s game that Andre Agassi told her to change earlier this year

Photo by PETER PARKS/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by PETER PARKS/AFP via Getty Images
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Andre Agassi has developed into a fine analytical tennis mind since retiring from the sport in 2006.

And, having enjoyed roles coaching the likes of Novak Djokovic and Holger Rune, his advice is certainly one worth listening to.

Even if you are Aryna Sabalenka.

Although she has been the dominant force on the WTA Tour for the past few years now, there is still plenty of room for improvement from the Belarusian.

How many Grand Slam titles do you think Aryna Sabalenka will win in 2026?

Earlier this year, Andre Agassi highlighted one area of her game which only needed a tiny tweak, but could turn her into a truly unstoppable force.

Andre Agassi’s advice for Aryna Sabalenka

Speaking after playing alongside her in an exhibition match earlier in 2025, Agassi began by praising Sabalenka alongside Naomi Osaka.

The American admitted: “I love watching them both play. I think they are both incredibly great ball strikers.

“They are both easy to root for. One hides their emotions incredibly well, the other probably reveals them a little too much.”

Aryna Sabalenka looks dejected on court
Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images for WTA

Then, focusing on Sabalenka, Agassi continued: “Aryna’s power is remarkable. Her backhand is very solid, and her forehand is a bomb. I think she swings at it 100%, which is great to watch, but an unnecessary thing to do because at 85%, she would get even better direction, and it would still be incredibly effective.

“She has changed her toss and put it down a lot, but this year, it looks like it has crept back up a bit. So I don’t know what is going on, I’ll check that out! But watching these two big hitters go at it is very fun.”

Aryna Sabalenka was so close to complete domination in 2025

Whilst the record will show just a single Grand Slam title for Sabalenka in 2025, it was very nearly much more than that.

After all, she reached the final of three of the four majors, yet only managed to win the one in New York.

Aryna Sabalenka celebrates after winning the 2025 US Open
Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

What’s even more frustrating for the 28-year-old is that she was completely in control of the two she lost, losing in a deciding third set against both Madison Keys and Coco Gauff in Melbourne and Paris respectively.

Sabalenka’s post-match comments after the Roland Garros final were hugely scrutinised, and bore the mark of a player who had completely lost her head in the aftermath of another crushing defeat.

Not only that, but there was a real feeling that, had she come through her gruelling semi-final battle with Amanda Anisimova at Wimbledon, she would have had a great chance of beating Iga Swiatek in that final.

Were it not for her emotions getting the better of her, we could have been witnesses to an all-time great season.

Coco Gauff 2025 Season Quiz

Sabalenka will hope that she can exorcise those demons in 2026.