Aryna Sabalenka believes she is closing in on her first-ever Grand Slam title and is making adjustments to her game in order to make her dream become a reality.
The world No.2 made progress in the majors last year by reaching the semi-finals at both Wimbledon and the US Open for the first time. However, she was denied a place in the title match after losing a tight three-set encounter on both occasions. At Wimbledon she was a set up against Karolina Pliskova before losing 4-6, 7-5, 7-5. A couple months later in New York she was ousted by Canadian rising star Leylah Fernandez.
Despite those defeats, Sabalenka is confident she is heading in the right direction and now knows what is required to win a major. Last year she won two Tour titles in Abu Dhabi and Madrid, as well as reaching the final of the Stuttgart Open.
“I think those two matches which I lost in the semi-finals was that little step to make this dream come true,” AFP quoted Sabalenka as telling reporters in Adelaide.
“I think right now I understand I can do it — okay, semi-final, I don’t have to overthink or over-rush, panic.
“Right now I think I’ll not be nervous in the semi-finals again in a Grand Slam.”
Coached by her former hitting partner Anton Dubrov, Sabalenka says she is working on trying to be more consistent during matches. In 2020 under Dubrov’s guidance, she finished the season in the world’s top 10 for the first time and ended the year by winning back-to-back titles.
“I made a winner or I made unforced errors,” she said.
“I just have to focus and try to make less unforced errors than winners. That’s it.
“Usually I win the first set and then I can start missing a lot, trying to overhit the ball, like make more winners.
“Then I start losing in the third set and when my opponent gets this feeling that they can beat me, it’s tough.
“I just have to not try to overhit the ball and just be there from the beginning till the end, don’t give these big opportunities for my opponent.”
Sabalenka will kick off her season at the Adelaide International where she is the second seed after Ash Barty. The two could meet in the final later this week should the draw go according to the seedings. They are currently tied at 4-4 in their head-to-head but Barty won two out of their three meetings last year.
“She’s a great player, she can do everything on court and that’s why she’s No.1,” Sabalenka said.
“I always like to play matches against her, always great battles, huge fights.
“I would like to play against her like every week in the finals.”
Handed a bye in the first rebound in Adelaide, Sabalenka will start her campaign against Slovenia’s Kaja Juvan.
