Aryna Sabalenka became the WTA world No. 1 in 2024, but some used to tell the three-time Grand Slam champion that she was not talented.
Sabalenka had an epic battle with Iga Swiatek for the year-end No. 1 ranking for the second consecutive year. Swiatek overtook the Belarusian at the end of 2023 by winning the WTA Finals.
However, Sabalenka was not denied this year. Swiatek's loss to the eventual champion Coco Gauff at this year's WTA Finals guaranteed that she could not overtake her rival before the end of 2024.
Sabalenka lost to Gauff in the semifinal but could still celebrate after being recognized as the world No. 1 by being awarded a trophy at the WTA Finals before the event ended on Saturday.
The contrast in styles between Sabalenka and Swiatek is part of what makes their rivalry so interesting. Although both are powerful baseline hitters, Sabalenka has slightly more firepower, while the Pole is quicker around the court.
It may seem unfathomable now, but when Sabalenka first emerged on the WTA Tour, some thought her powerful style meant she was not talented and would be incapable of being anything but a hard-hitter from the baseline.
Sabalenka discussed this during an appearance on Served With Andy Roddick. The 26-year-old said being a hard worker made it easier for her to ignore criticisms and focus on finding the right technique.
"I came on tour as the as the hard-hitter and I’ve been told, I don’t know for most time of my career that I’m not talented and I only can hit balls and I’m good at the baseline probably and I have to work on that consistency and I’m a big server and that’s it."
"I was just a hard worker, I could stay the whole day in court and keep working, keep trying to find the right shot and the right technique for me."
The Belarusian retains a powerful style, but other aspects have also significantly improved. Sabalenka credits her coach, Anton Dubrov, with the improvements in her defensive game.
"Then we started working with my with my coach who’s actually quite young but I saw this vision of me that I can actually be, not only an aggressive player but I can defend, I can use the slice. I would say finally things started working together."
This year's Australian Open and US Open champion does not think she would have won any Grand Slams without improving her game's variety, feeling it puts extra pressure on opponents.
"I would say that I wouldn’t win the Grand Slam without improving my slaps, my defence game, my serve to not only over hit the serve but sometimes put the player under pressure by changing the rhythm. I think that’s what helped me to win all those Major tournaments."
"Having this variety puts so much pressure on the opponent. I feel like when they step into the court I can just hit through them and they’re not going to get the ball in the right point."
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