Aryna Sabalenka: Brief biography
Aryna Sabalenka is a Belarusian tennis player who is being talked about as the next big thing in women’s tennis.
Sabalenkova has made rapid strides on the WTA circuit after going virtually unnoticed on the junior circuit. By winning the title in Wuhan in 2018, she confirmed her intention to challenge the biggest events, a promise she fulfilled with her subsequent performances.
The top outcome at each of the four Grand Slams was:
Australian Open: Round 1 (2018)
French Open: Round 1 (2018)
Wimbledon: Round 2 (2017)
US Open: 4th Round (2018)
Highest ranking: No. 11
Game style
Sabalenkova is one of the hardest hitters on the women’s tour and knows only one way to play: attack all out.
He makes huge cuts on both forehand and backhand and hits them flat and deep in all circumstances. He also has a flat and calm delivery that he uses to set up his powerful strokes.
Belarus does not go to the net much and does not use many slices or drop shots from the baseline. He has a fairly one-dimensional game where he uses his immense strength to overwhelm his opponents.
Strengths and weaknesses
Sabalenka’s service is among the best in the world; it’s fast and unpredictable. She has made a habit of serving big breaks and other important moments, which is a testament to her ability to play well under pressure – another strength of hers.
Belarus has tremendous hitting from both wings and can hit winners from virtually any part of the court. She never hesitates when she gets on the baseline and always tries to finish points quickly – which she often does.
Sabalenka also has a great comeback; can hit clean return winners against all kinds of servers. Her ability to pick spots with ground moves and returns is a huge asset.
Sabalenka is a tall player, which somewhat limits her movement on the court. She is also not the best volleyball player and is known to struggle to close points at the net.
Personal life
Born in Minsk, Belarus, Sabalenka comes from an athletic family. Hockey player Sergey Sabalenka was her father.
Sabalenková’s introduction to tennis came by accident. When she was six, she and her father drove past the tennis court and she started playing there just to try it. For Sabalenka and tennis, it was love at first hit and she hasn’t looked back since.
Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova were Sabalenka’s childhood idols, so it’s hardly surprising that their styles of play are so close to her own.
Belarus hasn’t played much on the junior circuit, mainly because the Belarusian Tennis Federation has convinced her to focus on ITF tournaments instead. This meant Sabalenkova never played a junior Grand Slam and was largely unheralded before turning professional.
Her first major breakthrough came at the 2017 Fed Cup, where she helped Belarus reach the final with wins over Viktorija Golubic and Sloane Stephens. She then went from strength to strength, reaching the final in Tianjin at the end of 2017, before announcing herself on the world stage in 2018 with her triumph in Wuhan.