Recently crowned Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka believes her successful start to the season is linked to how she has approached matches from a mental perspective.
The world No.2 is currently on an 11-match winning streak after claiming back-to-back titles in Australia last month. Sabalenka stormed to the Adelaide Open trophy without dropping a set before winning her maiden Grand Slam title in Melbourne Park two weeks later. During this period, the only player to have taken a set off her was Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open final.
Sabalenka returns to action this week at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. As a result of her breakthrough in the majors, expectations are high for the Belarussian to impress in other tournaments. However, she has vowed not to focus on what others say and stay focused on her own game which she believes will help her claim more silverware in the future.
“I would like to just focus on myself because I think the only thing why I won the Australian Open is because I was focusing on myself. I didn’t really think about all the expectations, all the things happening around.” Sabalenka told reporters on Sunday.
“I kept telling myself that I have to bring my level on court, I have a lot of chances to win the match.”
Whilst saying ‘something’ has changed in her mind as a result of her Australian Open win, she admits there is still work to be done. She is coached by Anton Dubrov and last year worked closely with a biomechanics expert which has helped elevate her serve. Sabalenka produced 428 double faults last year which she admits was due to a combination of technical error and her mentality whilst serving.
“I still have to work hard. I still have to prove every time on the court that I’m in the right place. Nothing changed much.” She said, “It’s just really nice to achieve your goal but I still have to work, so nothing has changed much.”
In Dubai, Sabalenka has enjoyed moderate success in the past by reaching the quarter-final stage of the tournament three times in 2018, 2020 and 2021. Although last year she was knocked out in the second round by Petra Kvitova.
“This year is different because they changed the balls. The surface is new. It’s different than it was last year. Last year was super fast. The balls were flying.” She commented on the conditions.
“Right now I feel like I have more chances to do well in this tournament just because of these changes.”
Sabalenka, who has a bye in the first round, will begin her campaign against either Jil Teichmann or Anastasia Potapova.
