Mats Wilander said Aryna Sabalenka always seemed like someone who would win Grand Slams and noted the Belarusian’s aggressiveness against Elena Rybakina was one of the key things in her Australian Open final win.
Sabalenka, 24, recovered from a set down to beat Rybakina 4-6 6-3 6-4 in the Australian Open final and lift her first Grand Slam title.
Sabalenka has been a top player for the past couple of years but she lost three Grand Slam semifinals before making her big Grand Slam breakthrough at Melbourne Park.
“I think Sabalenka, from the first time we saw her, she always seemed to have the mentality that she would win majors. But she sort of went a little bit crazy sometimes when she was in semis in Slams and you wondered if this was ever going to come. I think she did so so well being so aggressive because if she wasn’t aggressive, Rybakina would control everything. I think Sabalenka did a great job to control the points when the ball was in play and that made the difference even though there weren’t that many long rallies. For the last six months, she couldn’t serve at all and was serving underhand but for her to get through that. I think she looks in better shape somehow, she moves better. It seems like her serve problems have projected her to a different part in her career and it’s working,” Wilander told Eurosport.
Wilander praises Sabalenka’s aggressiveness against Rybakina
Rybakina has one of the biggest games on the Tour and she is usually the one who controls everything on the court.
But Sabalenka also has a big game and the Belarusian was ready to fire back at Rybakina.
After Rybakina came out firing, Sabalenka stepped up her game and tried to be the one who would be more aggressive.
When Sabalenka stepped up her game, it was evident that Rybakina was struggling to impose her game on the Belarusian.
In the end, it was Sabalenka who prevailed in three sets and she is now a Grand Slam champion.
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