US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka is as good as it gets on hard courts but isn't just a hard hitter
Aryna Sabalenka does not consider herself a finished product even after winning her first U.S. Open championship for a third Grand Slam title
NEW YORK (AP) — Even after winning her first U.S. Open championship for a third Grand Slam title, Aryna Sabalenka made clear she doesn't consider herself a finished product.
“Hopefully one day we’re gonna see me serve-and-volley,” she said with a hearty laugh. “I’m not sure I’m brave enough to do that, but maybe once I will come up with this ‘Plan C.’ Hopefully we’ll never need it, but whatever. Whatever it takes.”
Sabalenka reminded everyone with her 7-5, 7-5 victory over Jessica Pegula at Flushing Meadows in the final Saturday that she is as good as it gets on hard courts these days. The No. 2-ranked Sabalenka is 27-1 on that surface at majors over the past two seasons, with two Australian Open trophies in that span and a run to the 2023 U.S. Open final before losing to Coco Gauff.
The 26-year-old from Belarus also provided just the latest example of how powerful her serve and groundstrokes are — her forehand speeds at the U.S. Open were higher than all women and men in the tournament — and how they can overwhelm an opponent.
