Aryna Sabalenka Aims to Emulate Serena Williams' Dominance After a Breakthrough 2024 Season

Posted : 20 November 2024

Aryna Sabalenka's outstanding 2024 season, in which she dominated the hardcourt Grand Slams and clinched the world No. 1 ranking, has fueled her ambition to emulate Serena Williams' dominance in women's tennis. Once known for her emotional outbursts on court, the Belarusian has transformed her game into one that combines power and precision, often overpowering her opponents in a style reminiscent of Serena during her peak years. Sabalenka's remarkable consistency at the top of her game has led her to dream of sustaining such dominance on the WTA tour.

After breaking through at the 2023 Australian Open, Sabalenka successfully defended her title in January and added the US Open to her collection in September. Her New York victory saw her leapfrog Iga Swiatek into the No. 1 spot in the rankings. This achievement, along with a record of reaching the semifinals in nine of her last 12 Grand Slam appearances, echoes the impressive run Serena Williams had between 2014 and 2017 when she amassed six Grand Slam titles from ten semifinal appearances.

Sabalenka admitted that she has long admired Serena's ability to control the tour and, more recently, Iga Swiatek's dominance. While she draws inspiration from their successes, the 26-year-old is focused on improving her own game to ensure she possesses the tools necessary to sustain dominance at the top. Her powerful serve and aggressive groundstrokes have always marked her as a top contender, and she has continued to refine her game to achieve greater consistency and effectiveness.

Her journey to the top has been marked by growth and overcoming challenges, particularly with her serve, which was once a source of frustration. After finishing second in the world in 2021, Sabalenka struggled with a high error count and inconsistency, leading to emotional moments on court. However, a stint with a psychologist and biomechanical work on her serve helped her reach her first Grand Slam title in Melbourne in 2023. While heartbreak followed with a tough loss to Coco Gauff in the US Open final, Sabalenka's rise to No. 1 and her strong performances in hardcourt tournaments like Wuhan and Cincinnati have solidified her place at the summit.

Aryna Sabalenka Aims to Emulate Serena Williams' Dominance After a Breakthrough 2024 Season

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics