The thrilling climax of the US Open final’s opening set between Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula on Saturday evening in New York demonstrated exceptional shot precision under extensive pressure from both players. Sabalenka had to fend off the mounting pressure and avoid the familiar unease of crumbling under strain in an important grand slam event. She couldn’t close out the set against a persistent Pegula.
Sabalenka’s resolution is a testament to the relentless effort she has exerted to become a champion. She didn’t merely power through to claim victory in the final stages of the set, but also exhibited finesse, net skills and strategic intelligence. Sabalenka used deftly-placed volleys and smart drop shots to disrupt Pegula’s formidable defence in three of the last four of the set’s winning points.
When the score was 6-5 in Sabalenka’s favour, she wrong-footed Pegula by executing a clever backhand drop shot, then delivered a precise forehand shot that Pegula couldn’t handle. Next, after Pegula managed to claw back to game point, Sabalenka slipped in behind a deep, fast backhand, following it up with a feather-light forehand drop-volley winner. On the fifth set point, Sabalenka secured the initial set through yet another accurately-placed backhand drop shot.
Throughout her career, Sabalenka has largely triumphed in her matches due to her ruthless shots. However, she has layered her play style by increasingly adapting to net play and keeping her rivals in the dark via expertly-delivered drop shots. Some tennis pros may focus on enhancing their forte, but the extra assortment Sabalenka has integrated into her gameplay emphasises her resolve to unturn every possibility in her development.
“I’m incredibly pleased that I’m gutsy enough to put these tools into action during critical moments,” Sabalenka expressed. “I think it’s crucial to consistently push oneself to improve. I feel I exert even more pressure on my adversaries when they realise I’m not just a heavy hitter but can execute with some finesse. We constantly focus on enhancing these facets of my gameplay.”
Sabalenka’s ascent in her career can be attributed to many factors, not least conquering personal emotional challenges. She’s been public about the role that her temperament has played in hindering her progress. To address this, she engaged the assistance of a sports psychologist, but ultimately decided it was time to take charge of her emotional turmoil herself, applying the strategies learnt.
Today, Sabalenka’s poise and tranquility on the tennis court vastly differ from her previous fiery disposition. During a match against Pegula, the only time she lost her cool was after a double fault in a 5-5, deuce, in the first set. However, she promptly countered with a powerful backhand, not falling behind again and maintaining her composure through a challenging period.
In the early part of 2022, Sabalenka’s poor performance in her serves proved problematic, forcing her to occasionally resort to underarm serves. Her coach, Anton Dubrov, admitted his inability to further assist her and suggested she recruit another coach to help rectify her serve. However, she refused his resignation, believing these issues to be deeply rooted within her. She assumed responsibility and focused on finding her solution. Ultimately, her team realised her serve’s technical deficiency and sought a biomechanics coach to alter her technique. As a result, Sabalenka’s serve improved significantly, contributing to her overall success.
Sabalenka has tackled every major hurdle in her career by holding herself accountable, finding solutions, and not only relying on her innate talent for success. It’s been an intriguing journey that has propelled her to remarkable achievements.
With her triumph, she perfectly balances the influential rivalry in the WTA. Iga Swiatek, victor of this year’s French Open, continues to hold her position as the top player by a margin of 2,000 points. Her steady performance is showcased week after week on the strenuous circuit, however, Swiatek’s performance in grand slam matches outside of Roland Garros has been disappointing. Intriguingly, Swiatek has bagged more victories on hard court than clay, yet she has only advanced to two grand slam semi-finals outside of the French Open in her professional career.
In contrast, Sabalenka’s exceptional stability in grand slam competitions coupled with her recent accolade of clinching two major titles in the season firmly cements her position as the finest player globally, albeit narrowly. It’s almost certain that she will proceed to strengthen her position in the annals of tennis history. — Guardian