Aryna Sabalenka, 24, says she is now more mature and has a bit different perspective and approach to the game. In the past, Sabalenka used to get easily irritated and frustrated. But at the start of the 2023 season, Sabalenka seems to have a much calmer approach and now seems to know to accept that not everything will always be ideal and perfect on the court.
After beating Irina Begu 6-3 6-2 to reach the Adelaide International final in her first tournament of the season, Sabalenka revealed one of the keys to her strong start to the year. “Before I was really crazy about everything.
I was young. I had a lot of expectations. I was paying attention to everything. Right now I’m old. Okay, no, I’m not old, but I’m a little bit older (laughter). What was I about to say? The thing that I understand is nothing can guarantee you winning a tournament.
Helping me a lot to don’t have all those expectations, you know? That’s why probably I’m still able to stay calm on court and just work through whatever,” Sabalenka explained, per WTA Insider.
“The thing that I understand is nothing can guarantee you winning a tournament.”
Sabalenka on her more grounded perspective after coming through her rocky 2022 season: pic.twitter.com/bSKSZ209uy — WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) January 7, 2023
Sabalenka ousted Begu
After clinching notable wins over Liudmila Samsonova and Marketa Vondrousova, Sabalenka also got the job done against Begu.
The first break points of the match were seen in the fourth game, when Sabalenka missed out on three consecutive break points as Begu tied the first set to two games apiece. However, missing out on three early break points didn’t impact Sabalenka, who broke Begu in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead.
Sabalenka then saved three consecutive break points in the seventh game, before serving out for the opener in the ninth game. After winning the first set, Sabalenka also broke Begu in the very first game of the second set.
In the seventh game, Sabalenka broke Begu again to take a 5-2 lead. Up by a set and two breaks, Sabalenka routinely served out for the match in the eighth game.
