NEW YORK — Even after successful her first US Open championship for a 3rd Grand Slam title, Aryna Sabalenka made clear she doesn’t think about herself a completed product.
“Hopefully in the future we’re gonna see me serve-and-volley,” she mentioned with a hearty giggle. “I’m undecided I’m courageous sufficient to try this, however perhaps as soon as I’ll provide you with this ‘Plan C.’ Hopefully we’ll by no means want it, however no matter. No matter it takes.”
Sabalenka reminded everybody with her 7-5, 7-5 victory over Jessica Pegula at Flushing Meadows within the last Saturday that she is pretty much as good because it will get on exhausting courts lately. The No. 2-ranked Sabalenka is 27-1 on that floor at majors over the previous two seasons, with two Australian Open trophies in that span and a run to the 2023 US Open last earlier than shedding to Coco Gauff.
The 26-year-old from Belarus additionally supplied simply the newest instance of how highly effective her serve and groundstrokes are — her forehand speeds on the US Open had been greater than all ladies and men within the event — and the way they will overwhelm an opponent.
Even when the stakes are the very best, she will actually come by way of.
“I imply, I do know that I’ve to go for it. That’s the one means it really works for me, as a result of each time I’m making an attempt to play safer … I cease my arms, and the ball flies within the stands,” Sabalenka mentioned. “So a very long time in the past, I made a decision for myself: In these vital moments, I simply need to go for it. I’ve to swing.”
Saturday’s first set was tied at 5-all, and Sabalenka took the final two video games.
Within the second set, she trailed 5-3 earlier than grabbing the final 4.
“She performed some large tennis,” mentioned Pegula, who will transfer as much as No. 3 within the rankings, “in some large moments.”
What was most spectacular, maybe, and would possibly fear the opposite high girls within the sport greater than something, is the best way Sabalenka confirmed off some selection, keen to attempt one thing aside from her intimidating, shout-accompanied groundstrokes at important junctures.
On the finish of the opening set, for instance, with Pegula serving and making an attempt to pressure a tiebreaker, Sabalenka used a drop shot to convey her opponent ahead earlier than hanging a down-the-line forehand passing winner. Later in that recreation, when Pegula was only one level from attending to 6-all, Sabalenka crafted a terrific volley to get to deuce. Then, after a double-fault, Sabalenka broke to personal that set with a drop shot that drew a netted response.
“It’s actually good to have these choices in your pocket. Like typically, you don’t really feel your greatest on the baseline, and you’ll simply go for a slice or a drop shot or come to the web. I imply, I’ve been at all times engaged on this variation on the courtroom,” Sabalenka mentioned. “I’m actually glad that I’m courageous sufficient to make use of these instruments.”
Along with serving to win a selected change right here or there, she continued, having that versatility makes life harder for the ladies on the opposite aspect of the web.
Simply one more reason she has received 12 matches in a row.
“I really feel (as if) I put much more stress on the opponents once they see I’m not solely a tough hitter (and) I may play with some contact,” Sabalenka mentioned. “So we at all times work on (these features) of my recreation.”
