After winning her first U.S. Open title, her third Grand Slam crown, Aryna Sabalenka said she doesn’t see herself as a finished product.
“Hopefully you’ll see me serve and volley soon,” she said with a smile. “Maybe I’m not brave enough to do that, but maybe I have this ‘Plan C.’ Hopefully it will never be necessary, it can happen. Whatever it takes.”
With her 7-5, 7-5 victory over Jessica Pegula at Flushing Meadows in Saturday’s final, Sabalenka reminded everyone she’s royal on hard courts these days. The world No. 2 is 27-1 on that surface in major events over the past two seasons, including a pair of Australian Open trophies in that span and the 2023 US Open final, which she lost to Coco Gauff.
The 26-year-old Belarusian also confirmed the strength of her serve and strokes – her forehand speed at the US Open surpassed all women’s and men’s records at the tournament – and how they can outsmart any opponent. Even when she finds herself in a critical situation, she knows how to respond.
“I know I have to go for it. It’s the only way that works for me because every time I try to play cautiously … I just loosen my arms and the ball ends up in the stands,” Sabalenka said. “So a long time ago, I made this decision: in those crucial moments, I just have to go for it. Hit it hard.”
The first set on Saturday was tied at 5-5, and Sabalenka won the last two games. She was down 5-3 in the second set but eventually won the last four games. “She showed her best tennis in some great moments,” said Pegula, who will move up to third in the rankings.
Most impressive, perhaps, something that might worry her other main rivals, was that Sabalenka showed a little more variety, a willingness to do something more than the usual intimidating hammering of the racket.
For example, late in the first set, when Pegula was serving and looking to force a tiebreak, Sabalenka resorted to a drop shot at the net to draw her opponent out of the backcourt before winning the point with a forehand down the line.
In that same game, when Pegula was close to tying at 6-6, Sabalenka used a superb volley for deuce. Shortly after the double fault, Sabalenka broke serve and clinched the set with another ball, which she left short.
“It’s great to have those options in hand. There are times when you don’t feel confident from the baseline, and then you try to slice, drop shot or come to the net. I’m always working on having more variety at the net,” Sabalenka said. “I’m glad I have the courage to use those tools.”