Sabalenka has the potential to become one of the top players of her era.

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Last year, Aryna Sabalenka finished her best season yet as the second-ranked player in the world. However, evaluating her growth was challenging. While she accomplished a great deal, such as winning her first major tournament and becoming a true competitor for Iga Swiatek, she had the potential for even greater success.

Following her victory at the Australian Open, Sabalenka had strong performances at the other three grand slam tournaments, reaching two semi-finals and a final. However, she ultimately fell short in each of those matches, struggling under pressure after initially holding the lead. While it was still a successful year, it had the potential to be one of the best in the past ten years.

During this time, Sabalenka has shown remarkable resilience. Despite facing challenges, she didn’t let them hinder her progress last year. Instead, she quickly recovered and learned from her mistakes. Her current success at the Australian Open can be attributed to the hardships she overcame earlier.

Sabalenka reflected on the importance of experience in her journey. She acknowledged that big wins are often preceded by tough losses. While she experienced a range of emotions, including sadness and frustration, she and her team took the time to analyze the situation and come up with a plan to prevent similar outcomes in the future.

After overcoming challenges and becoming a two-time grand slam champion, the 25-year-old now has the opportunity to solidify her status as one of the top players in her generation. While most of Sabalenka’s victories have been on hard courts, she is known for her ability to excel on any surface. In 2020, she won the Madrid Open on clay and came close to reaching the French Open final, narrowly losing to Karolina Muchova. Additionally, she has made it to the semi-finals at Wimbledon in back-to-back years.

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She currently possesses the necessary skills, mindset, and talent to continuously increase her number of grand slam titles, regardless of the playing surface. However, this does not guarantee that she will have an easy path. Just as Swiatek’s successful 2022 season motivated Sabalenka, the Australian Open winner’s strong start to the year should serve as a source of inspiration for Swiatek. It would be a letdown if these two players do not compete for major titles this year.

30 minutes prior to the Saturday final, Sabalenka was photographed signing her autograph on the hairless head of her trainer, Jason Stacy. This act, while comical, provided valuable understanding into the methods she and her team have utilized to achieve success throughout the tournament.

While Sabalenka may display a fierce and ruthless demeanor on the court, her achievements highlight the significance of finding joy in her work, even during high-pressure grand slam matches. The positive and supportive atmosphere she has cultivated with her team, led by coach Anton Dubrov, stands in stark contrast to the contentious relationships some players have with their teams. This environment is likely to assist her in staying focused as she continues to develop.

Source: theguardian.com