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, Sabalenka desperately tried to avoid the familiar sensation of collapsing under pressure in a significant grand slam match.
The solution that Sabalenka 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, Sabalenka disrupted Pegula’s excellent defensive efforts with deft volleying and intelligent drop shots.