Serena Williams’ Coach Slams Aryna Sabalenka’s On-Court Behavior During Roland Garros Upset: “This is the Locker Room Reputation”

After the early exits of Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, and Elena Rybakina at the French Open, many expected Aryna Sabalenka to win her first title in the tournament. But to her utter disappointment, Sabalenka crashed out in the quarterfinals with a three-set upset to Diana Shnaider, also registering a bagel in the third set.

Both players found it difficult to play in the windy conditions. But Sabalenka, whose emotions have often gotten the better of her during crucial moments, made 57 unforced errors and even lost 10 back-to-back games. What Serena Williams‘ coach, Rennae Stubbs, cannot understand is how Sabalenka, in spite of a set and a 4-1 lead, could get frustrated at anything.

Sabalenka yelled at her box and threw her arms up in the air. In short, her frustrations were visible, and it was then that Shnaider thought she had a chance to beat the World No.1.

I’m like, why would you throw your racket when you are up a set and 3-0, and the girl down the other end thinks she has no hope? Then all of a sudden she sees you throwing your racket and acting like a pork chop, and you think maybe I do have a chance. That’s exactly how Shnaider reacted. This is the locker room reputation I talk about all the time.

Rennae Stubbs said on her The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast

Sabalenka has blamed her emotions for several of her Grand Slam heartbreaks. Stubbs feels the fault was all Sabalenka’s, asking her why she showed any negativity.

You know a player like Sabalenka, if she starts to go off a little bit, she can go way off. There are certain players that once they start going off the rails, you know they can come back with some great stuff, but you know that there is a possibility she is going to give you two or three games. That, as a coach, I can tell you is the locker room reputation of Sabalenka.

Rennae Stubbs added

She was so dejected that she told the press afterward that she wanted to “quit tennis” and that all she wanted to do at that time was smash things. But now Sabalenka has moved on from her heartbreak and has already started focusing on the next tournament, the Berlin Open.

Kim Clijsters thinks Aryna Sabalenka completely destroyed herself during the French Open

Kim Clijsters, the former World No.1 and winner of four Grand Slam singles titles, has identified the problem with Aryna Sabalenka during her French Open match against Diana Shnaider. According to the Belgian, Sabalenka’s problem was her obsession with perfection, and because things did not go the way she wanted to, she ended up self-sabotaging.

But then you see her self-sabotage and make herself doubt because things aren’t going perfectly. That’s what I think the clay can do to you. It can make you feel so out of place and frustrated. And she’s never been shy about showing her frustrations and her excitement, but she completely destroyed herself.

Kim Clijsters said on her Love All podcast

The main draw of the Berlin Open is set to start on June 15. Sabalenka, who has so far played two finals on grass (2018 Eastbourne International and the 2022 Rosmalen Grass Court Championships), has never won a title on this surface. At Wimbledon, she is a three-time semifinalist, having reached the stage last year and losing to eventual runner-up Amanda Anisimova.

Iga Swiatek will enter Wimbledon as the defending champion. She double-bageled Anisimova in the final last year, winning her career’s first grass-court title.

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