The Briefing: How did Sabalenka use her new tennis tools to win?
In a tight match, every tennis player has to decide when to shift away from Plan A and try something new. The idea is to move their opponent out of their comfort zone, but it can discomfit the player making the change just as much.
What’s a power player to do? Sabalenka’s answer Saturday was to pull the string. She worked all last off-season on developing a more well-rounded game, so that when the overpowering strokes went wild — as they did today — she would have more tools to deploy.
Drop shots, volleys, low, slicing approach shots. A year ago against Coco Gauff, Sabalenka had no answers when she needed to create opportunities from adversity, other than to keep swinging.
She dedicated months of work to making sure that never happened again. On Saturday in New York, that work paid off.
Aryna Sabalenka: ‘Finally I got this beautiful trophy’
Speaking on court after her title win, Aryna Sabalenka said: “Oh my God, I’m speechless right now. So many times I thought I was so close to get the US Open title, it’s always been a dream of mine and finally I got this beautiful trophy. It means a lot, it’s been a very, very difficult two weeks.”
Discussing opponent Jessica Pegula, she added: “You are showing some amazing tennis and I’m sure that one day you’re going to get one — well, not one, maybe more but let’s start from one Grand Slam! I remembered all the tough losses in the past here.
“Congratulations on a great summer and you’re an amazing player… if you keep working hard and sacrificing everything for a dream, you’re going to get there one day.
“I’m super proud of myself, I never say that,” the Belarusian concluded.
