Aryna Sabalenka Reflects on Her Behavior After Two Grand Slam Finals Disappointments: “I was Not Ready to Fight”

Aryna Sabalenka now holds a 4-6 head-to-head record over Amanda Anisimova after defeating her in the US Open final.

Aryna Sabalenka Reflects on Her Behavior After Two Grand Slam Finals Disappointments: “I was Not Ready to Fight”

Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

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Aryna Sabalenka finally grabbed her fourth Grand Slam singles title that had eluded her since the 2024 US Open. Last Saturday, she went past home favorite Amanda Anisimova in straight sets in the US Open final to clinch her first Major of the season after two failed attempts.

At the Australian Open, Sabalenka was chasing a three-peat, but Madison Keys spoiled her dreams with a three-set win. Then at the French Open, Sabalenka reached the final for the first time, but there too, her campaign ended in disappointment.

On top of that, she sparked controversy with her comments during the on-court interview and at the press conference. She was accused of not giving credit to Coco Gauff for the win after she blamed her “terrible” tennis for the defeat. She also said that if four-time Roland Garros champion Iga Swiatek played Gauff instead in the final, she would’ve defeated the American.

Sabalenka, during the Welcome to the Party podcast, said she wanted to win those two Major finals so badly that she thought she wouldn’t have to fight much to get the trophy. But when her opponents gave her competition, she went “completely crazy“, calling it the big mistake she had made.

I then went into the final, and it seemed to me that I did not expect them to fight back. I felt that the match was going to be easier, so I was not ready to fight, which is crazy to say. I was not ready for a fight. I was not ready for another player to bring the fight.

After the French Open final, Sabalenka took a break and reflected on the two finals, learnt the lesson, and worked on her weakness. She said her behavior during the US Open was much better.

Her second US Open win helped Sabalenka improve her head-to-head record over Anisimova to 4-6. She also became the first woman since Serena Williams (2014) to defend the title at Flushing Meadows.

Aryna Sabalenka recalls the phase when she almost decided to quit tennis

Aryna Sabalenka has fixed her serving problems, which forced her to almost hang up her racket three years ago. The 27-year-old, on the Jay Shetty Podcast, said she was double-faulting a lot and couldn’t serve well. But things changed when she hired biomechanist Gavin MacMillan, who helped her fix the problems.

Aryna Sabalenka (2)
Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X/Jimmie48 Photography)

But I was really close to just quitting. I was like I don’t know how to fix it. We tried everything. We tried psychology, going through repetitions, practicing, everything. And I was like, okay, I am ready to quit. Then we hired the biomechanics guy, and he helped me to understand some details, and it was the moment for me to stay strong and go through it.

MacMillan is now working with Coco Gauff, who is currently dealing with serving problems because of which she broke down in tears during her second-round match against Donna Vekic at the US Open. So far this season, Sabalenka has hit 242 aces in 66 matches and committed 141 double faults, winning 77.7 percent of her service games.

Next, Sabalenka will be featuring at the WTA 1000 China Open, which is scheduled to start on 24 September. Last year, she lost to Karolina Muchova in three sets in the quarterfinals, but at the Wuhan Open, she spoiled home favorite Qinwen Zheng‘s plans with a three-set win in the final. It was her third victory in the tournament.

Sabalenka has so far reached eight finals and clinched titles in Brisbane, Miami, Madrid, and New York. Apart from these events, as well as the three Majors finals, she also played in the finals of the Indian Wells and Stuttgart Open.

Also read: Andy Roddick Highlights the Secret Behind Aryna Sabalenka’s Recent US Open Win