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.