How Aryna Sabalenka owned her weaknesses to emerge as world’s best
The US Open champion has addressed flaws in her shotmaking, serve and psyche to reach new heights
As the magnificent opening set of the US Open final between Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula reached its breathless climax on Saturday evening in New York, the supreme quality of their shotmaking belied the suffocating tension on both sides of the net.
After failing to serve out the set against a resolute Pegula, the No 2 seed desperately tried to avoid the familiar sensation of collapsing under pressure in a significant grand slam match.
The solution she found was reflective of the extensive work it has taken for her to become a champion.
In the closing stages of the set, Sabalenka did not simply blast her way to victory – she also found joy with touch, net play and intelligence. In three of her last four winning points in the set, she disrupted the American’s excellent defensive efforts with deft volleying and intelligent drop shots.
Aryna Sabalenka holds off Jessica Pegula fightback to win US Open
While leading 6-5 and at deuce on Pegula’s serve, Sabalenka pulled her off the baseline with a sweet backhand drop shot before lasering a forehand passing-shot winner beyond her helpless opponent.
Then, after the sixth seed had willed herself to game point, Sabalenka sneaked into the net behind a deep, piercing backhand before executing a delicate forehand drop-volley winner.
On her fifth set point, Sabalenka finally sealed the opening set with another perfectly weighted backhand drop shot.
