Former World No.9 reckons “something is completely off” with Aryna Sabalenka’s game following shocking Dubai Open exit

Aryna Sabalenka has won only one in her last three matches since losing to Madison Keys at the Australian Open final.

Former World No.9 reckons “something is completely off” with Aryna Sabalenka’s game following shocking Dubai Open exit

Aryna Sabalenka (via X)

Aryna Sabalenka has struggled to find her form since the Australian Open final. The World No.1 was flying high before the turn of the year after winning four titles in less than six months, including the US Open. Former World No.9 Andrea Petkovic recently pointed out that her serves have been the Achilles heel of her struggle.

Before the Australian Open final, Sabalenka was on a run of 20 match wins at the tournament and had won the Brisbane International tournament kick-off of the 2025 season. But, against Madison Keys, she was beaten by the American star, and that left her so frustrated that she had to smash her racket on multiple occasions.

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Since that match, she has earned only one win in three matches. Recently, she crashed out of the Qatar Open after losing in three sets to Linz Open champion Ekaterina Alexandrova in the second round. After that, she then won defeated Veronika Kudermetova in Dubai before losing to Clara Tauson in straight sets.

Sabalenka’s service first serve stats have been poor, hitting just 58% against Alexandrova and 48% against Tauson. The plummeted serve has made Andrea Petkovic worried that might be losing some of her best offensive tactics of her game.

I will say that you can tell now that something is off with the serve. Her ball toss is a lot higher, but what I meant more by it is that she gets broken a lot more, and she can’t hold [as she used to]. Usually, when you watch a Sabalenka match, and she breaks, you are like, this match is done, unless something happens. ow you don’t have that, and you can feel that she doesn’t have that, so that gives her a bit of insecurity, so that is just worrisome about the serve.

Andra Petkovic said via Rennae Stubbs’ podcast

Sabalenka has only won one title this season and has won one of her last four matches. The World No.1 will take the record to the Sunshine Double, where she didn’t do too well last season.

Andrea Petkovic predicts where Joao Fonseca will be ranked by the end of the season

Joao Fonseca has become the most discussed teenager in the ATP. After etching his name in the history books of the sport at the Australian Open, when he defeated Andrey Rublev, he has since gone on to show how talented he is. Recently, he defeated Francisco Cerundolo in straight sets to win the Argentina Open.

Joao Fonseca
Joao Fonseca (Image via X)

Andrea Petkovic, who has been a big admirer of the 18-year-old Brazilian recently gave her verdict on which position he’s going to be ranked in the ATP at the end of the 2025 season.

I think he is going to end up in the top 20. I hope for him he will have a slow and steady rise because that will bode well for the next 15 years instead of a quick rise which would be great for tennis.

Andrea Petkovic said via Tennis Channel

However, Fonseca recently lost in the first round of the Rio Open. The World No.68 lost to Alexandre Muller in straight sets. But, his victory at the Argentina Open has overshadowed the early exit in Rio.