Aryna Sabalenka confirms something on the mental plan happened that caused her stunning serving issues in 2022 as the Belarusian reveals at one point she even started contemplating retirement.
If you remember well, the Belarusian tennis star was mightily struggling with her serve throughout 2022 – especially at the start of the season when she even blasted 21 double faults in an Adelaide loss.
When the season finished, the current world No. 1 led the WTA by far in the double faults department, having double-faulted 428 in 55 matches played that year.
Aryna Sabalenka© Australian Open/YouTube
While searching for a solution, someone advised Sabalenka to give a try to a biomechanics coach.
She hit the lottery with that one as the biomechanics coach quickly figured out how to fix it.
Resolving her serving issues instantly resulted in a Grand Slam breakthrough as the 26-year-old became a Major winner at the 2023 Australian Open.
Sabalenka: I was struggling with my serve, it was embarrassing
“I don’t know what happened with my mental health, but there was a year when I couldn’t serve. In tennis, if you double fault for the whole match, you cannot get to the level I wanted to be at—win a grand slam,” the world No. 1 told Flaunt Magazine.
“I was struggling for maybe a year and a half. One time, I was like, ‘Okay, I’m done. I just… I cannot.’
“In some ways, it was embarrassing. I couldn’t find a solution, and maybe it was just a sign I had to quit.”
Since fixing her serve, Sabalenka has arguably been the best player in women’s tennis, having won the most Grand Slams since 2023 – three.
Also, she reached the world No. 1 for the first time in her career after the 2023 US Open and has been having her second stint at the top spot since last year’s US Open.
Tennis World USA