Storm Hunter recounts playing Aryna Sabalenka during No. 1's infamous serving woes

Storm Hunter insists she didn’t wish to take into consideration Aryna Sabalenka’s serving woes earlier than or throughout their 2022 Australian Open match and in the end realized that she was completely proper to deal with the Belarusian with the largest respect. 

For those who bear in mind effectively, the present world No. 1 was battling main points on her serve at the beginning of the 2022 season. After blasting 18 double faults in opposition to Kaja Juvan in Adelaide, the 26-year-old additionally double faulted 21 instances a few days later versus Rebecca Peterson – she misplaced each matches. 

Going into the 2022 Australian Open, Sabalenka seemed a bit misplaced on the courtroom because it was clear that she was doubting herself and low confidence. 

Hunter remembers drawing Sabalenka on the Australian Open 

“I do not care whether or not she has yips or not – she’s No. 2 on the planet. There was by no means a dialog in my group of like ‘oh, as soon as she begins double faulting, you are gonna get this.’ It was nearly most likely unprofessional or immature to assume ‘oh she’s simply going to maintain serving like that’. As a result of she’s a celebrity; we revered her, her sport, and her serve. We couldn’t take that as a right,” Hunter advised the Australian Open web site.

Early within the match, Sabalenka sprayed a few double faults and dropped the opener earlier than additionally falling down by an early break within the second set. However regardless of a notable lead, the world No. 192 by no means thought her win was sealed. 

In the long run, the world No. 1 confirmed nice psychological energy and got here again to win 5-7 6-3 6-2 regardless of hitting 12 double faults in the course of the match.

“She did not give something away mentally. I seemed down the opposite finish, and it appeared she was as composed as she may very well be. She wasn’t breaking down like she was in Adelaide. I simply felt like, she’s gonna discover a means, she’s a competitor,” Hunter recalled. 

Following her win, Sabalenka stated she simply “stopped pondering and began taking part in.” That 12 months, the Belarusian exited the event within the round-of-16 after a loss to Kaia Kanepi.

Since then, the 26-year-old hasn’t misplaced a match in Melbourne after successful back-to-back Australian Open titles in 2023 and 2024. 

However earlier than these triumphs, Sabalenka employed a biomechanics coach to assist her resolve her serving points.