Sabalenka’s 4 Grand Slam singles titles – two Australian Open and two US Open triumphs, all on exhausting courts – are greater than most gamers can dream of.
Nonetheless, she has additionally misplaced 4 main finals and 6 semi-finals, regardless of a consistency on the most important levels that’s unrivalled amongst her friends.
The priority in latest months has been Sabalenka’s psychological focus disappearing in much less pressurised conditions.
This was most not too long ago obvious in her Cincinnati Open fourth-round defeat by 20-year-old Czech opponent Sara Bejlek. Sabalenka led 5-1 in a first-set tie-break and 4-1 within the second set, however continued to lack composure within the rallies as Bejlek rallied to win 7-6 (9-7) 6-4.
At her earlier match in Toronto, she misplaced to Russian world quantity 19 Ekaterina Alexandrova within the final 16 as her serve crumbled.
In the course of the clay-court swing, Sabalenka capitulated after profitable the primary set in opposition to Hailey Baptiste in Madrid, Sorana Cirstea in Rome and, most notably, Diana Shnaider at Roland Garros.
“I work on my psychological facet of the sport. I have been attempting to reset my thoughts and to return again stronger,” a bullish Sabalenka stated in New York.
“It is solely a matter of time for me to return again.”
