Aryna Sabalenka has been backed to win Wimbledon and become world No. 1 after taming her emotions and winning the US Open.
The Belarusian world No. 2 cracked under the pressure of losing the final to Coco Gauff last year – and was filmed smashing two racquets in the gym corridor afterwards.
This time she survived a mid-match meltdown to beat fellow American Jessica Pegula 7-6 7-5 before breaking down in tears under the roof of the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Sabalenka claimed her third Grand Slam title – and has now won 27 out of 28 matches in hardcourt Grand Slams in the last two years after also winning two Australian Open titles.
And 18-time Major winner Chris Evert said: “Sabalenka played the big points better. She is such a beautiful, wonderful athlete. It is not just power. It is her flexibility and tolerance. I am looking at Wimbledon. With that serve and return – are you kidding? She has got the game to win there. I think she will get that No.1 ranking soon.”
It has been a very tough year for Sabalenka, as the Florida-based Belarusian does not return home to her homeland – and her former boyfriend and ex-NHL star Konstantin Koltsov died in March.
She banged her racquet into the court in frustration after serving a double fault in the first set – and lost five consecutive games in the second set before regrouping to win the last four.
ESPN analyst Evert added: “We have seen meltdowns in the past but she is past that now. It has prevented her to winning other Grand Slams, her emotions and anger at herself
“She knows she has to handle her emotions to win Grand Slams. I think she has matured emotionally. She has grown up a lot in a year, learning from her mistakes. The life of a tennis player is never easy. She is from Belarus but she never gets the chance to go home. That coaching box is her family. It is a lonely life at times but she has given her whole life to tennis.”
Sabalenka revealed afterwards that her coaching team – lead by fitness coach Jason Stacy and coach Anton Dubrov – were wearing temporary tattoos in tribute to her tiger tattoo on her arm.
The world No.2 started a ritual of kissing Stacy’s bald head at each match at this year’s Australian Open – now he has a tattoo there. “Just always come up with something new,” she said. “I’m really curious what’s going to be next!”
But Sabalenka was more serious about her emotional journey over the last year – and how she was better able to handle the pressure this time. “Mentally I have been really strong. I have been through a lot on and off the court – I have had some real challenges in life.. I have figured out how to control my emotions and stay balanced on the court.
“I tell myself: ‘It’s only a tennis match. You can handle this.’ This is the big change. I have figured out how to control my emotions. “I have had to go through these tough lessons to hold this beautiful trophy. I am the happiest person in the world now.”
Sabalenka, who missed Wimbledon and the Olympics with a shoulder injury, won 18 out her 19 Grand Slam matches this year. But still only 26, she warned she will only get better – and return to the top of the rankings above world No.1 Iga Swiatek.
“Me and my team always try to work on something new,” she said. “There are so many things to improve. I am still working on my touch. Probably I can come to the net more often with the power that I have. I can move forward a bit more often. Serve and volley. Slice, add more variation. There are so many things to work on. I can improve my game on clay and on grass.
“I’m just trying to focus on myself, and I know that if in each tournament I am able to play my best tennis and I’ll be able to bring this fight spirit on each game, I’ll be able to become World No. 1 again. So my focus is on myself, on improving myself as a player and as a person. Yeah, hopefully one day I’ll see myself on the top of the ranking.”
