EXCLUSIVE: Meet Shane Liyanage – The Data Analyst Behind Aryna Sabalenka’s Breakthrough - UBITENNIS
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EXCLUSIVE: Meet Shane Liyanage – The Data Analyst Behind Aryna Sabalenka’s Breakthrough

Ubitennis interviews the data expert who has been credited with helping improve the game of the world No.2 in recent months.

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Image via Australian Open Twitter

By Federico Bertelli

Last year Aryna Sabalenka’s serve was her undoing on the Tour as she hit more than 300 double faults in her first 37 matches played. 

 

The Belarusian sought to correct the problem with the help of a biomechanics expert who she started to work with last summer. Since then, Sabalenka’s game has risen considerably and last week she won the biggest title of her career so far at the Australian Open. So how has she managed to make such a considerable improvement? 

Ubitennis has spoken with the person in charge of the data company that has been collaborating with Sabalenka and other players. Shane Liyanage’s business, Data Drive Sports Analytics (DDSA), provides a range of data and analytical services for his clients. In the WTA spectrum, his top clients include top players 10 Ons Jabeur and Sabalenka, while on the ATP side he is collaborating with Emil Ruusuvouri and Taro Daniel. After the major accomplishment of Sabalenka, who has just won her maiden Grand Slam title, Liyanage opens up to Ubitennis about a variety of subjects in our interview which has been broken down into four sections. 

1. The process of data collection and context creation (minute 1:00)

In the first part, Liyanage sheds light on his work with Sabalenka, the effort in terms of both collecting data and producing tailor-made services and reports. Interestingly he confirmed that data is collected in many different ways (manual video tagging, AI automated video tagging and Hawkeye data). He said that there isn’t a unique blueprint for data, but each ATP and WTA tournament, including Grand Slam’s, devise a different approach in terms of data sharing, also in real-time. For example, tennis Australia developed an app for players and their teams to get access to insight and raw hawk-eye data.

Another interesting point is regarding data presentation: it’s not just a matter of data, but a matter of transforming data into actionable insights (providing contexts is probably the most challenging part from an intellectual point of view); in Liyanage’s team there is also a high-performance coach, as well as the experience of Shane both in tennis and data analysis. This is crucial to building a bridge between people with different skills.

2. Spotlight on Sabalenka (minute 9:22)

In the second part, we went into more depth on Sabalenka’s relationship with the data expert. One notable point is that Liyanage usually does not speak directly with her, but it is her coach who gathers the information and then feeds it back to his player. Liyanage says he is keen on the developing side of the game of the player: there’s no silver bullet, but what really matters is to make the player more conscious about their game plan and strategies.

3. Starting a relationship (minute 17.30)

Ubitennis gets an idea of how to start and develop a relationship with a player, and also what are the different perspectives between a junior and a pro player. What was taken away from the interview is that the relationship between data experts and player’s teams is the most critical part. For example, over the last three years with Sabalenka there was a tremendous evolution: players are different, so coaches change their perspectives and needs as a consequence. 

4. Miscellaneous: Tennis on Netflix and the mental part of the game (minute 24:12)

 In the final part of the interview, Ubitennis and Liyanage chat about non-data issues… Netflix breakpoint in the last week was a trending topic (but still has to gain steam considering that it’s not been able to break through the top ten in any country in the last 2 weeks). And it was a good starting point for talking about the mental part of the game. 

Davis Cup

(VIDEO): Malaga Line-Up Set As Davis Cup Most Unpredictable Tournament In History

UbiTennis founder Ubaldo Scanagatta explains why any of the eight teams in Malaga could win November’s Davis Cup Finals

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(@DavisCup - Twitter)

The Davis Cup quarter-final line-up is set after an incredible Group Stage over Bologna, Split, Manchester and Valencia.

 

Now eight teams remain including Novak Djokovic’s Serbia, Great Britain and Australia.

However surprise teams such as the Netherlands, Finland and the Czech Republic will also appear in the quarter-finals.

Ten-time champions Great Britain will face Serbia with the winners taking on the winner of the quarter-final between Italy and the Netherlands.

In the other half of the draw Canada will be heavy favourites against Finland while the Czech Republic face Australia.

The final eight tournament will take place in Malaga and will take place between the 21st and the 26th of November.

However this year’s Davis Cup could be the most unpredictable version in the tournament’s history with there being no Spain or USA.

It really could be anyone’ tournament with Tennis’ most prestigious team competition up for grabs in November.

In this video UbiTennis founder Ubaldo Scanagatta explains why this year’s Davis Cup finals could be the most unpredictable edition of all-time and why any of the teams could win the title.

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(VIDEO EXCLUSIVE) Steve Flink, Ubaldo Scanagatta Review The 2023 Wimbledon Men’s Final

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Carlos Alcaraz - Wimbledon 2023 (photo Twitter @RolandGarros)

Carlos Alcaraz stopped Novak Djokovic’s attempt to win his 24th Major title with an epic 5-set win over the Serbian champion on Centre Court on Sunday

 

As the final afternoon at the 2023 Championships was progressing in a crescendo of emotions, world no. 1 Alcaraz and seven-time Wimbledon champion Djokovic fought each other in a final destined to the history books.

Ubitennis’ Editor in Chief Ubaldo Scanagatta and Hall of Famer Steve Flink break down the themes of this match as they question each other about the meaning of Alcaraz’ first triumph in SW19.

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(VIDEO EXCLUSIVE) Steve Flink, Ubaldo Scanagatta Review The 2023 Wimbledon Women’s Final

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Saturday at The All England Club saw a new Grand Slam champion be crowned.

 

Marketa Vrondrousova stunned Ons Jabeur 6-4, 6-4, to become the first unseeded women’s champion in history. The Czech’s stunning run comes 12 months after she was sidelined from the tournament due to wrist surgery. What is even more remarkable is the fact that she had only ever won two Tour-level matches on the grass before this year.

Meanwhile, Jabeur has described her latest loss as the most painful of her career. It is the second year in a row where she has had to settle for runner-up, as well as last year’s US Open. Jabeur produced a series of costly unforced errors which proved pivotal to the outcome of the match. Did nerves got the better of her? She was bidding to become the first African woman to win a major title.

Tennis Hall of Famer Steve Flink analyzes this year’s Wimbledon final alongside Ubitennis founder Ubaldo Scanagatta. The two also look ahead to the mouthwatering clash between world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz and seven-time champion Novak Djokovic.

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