Sabalenka and the keys to her second assault on No. 1

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Behind the success of any professional tennis player, there are hundreds of factors that converge along the way. In the case of Aryna Sabalenka, one of those pieces is named Anton Dubrov, the man who has been coaching her for four seasons, although they have known each other for over ten years. In an interview with Arab News, the Belarusian analyzes his player's evolution over the last twelve months, focusing mainly on why her second ascent to the top of the WTA ranking is nothing like when they first achieved it.

“I think she is more mentally prepared,” Dubrov, her trusted coach since 2020, assumes. “I don't think she can stay as the world Nº1 all the time, honestly, but I believe now she is more mature to understand what needs to be done once you reach these levels. What you can't do is obsess about staying there; all you can do is think about your next match. Being Nº1 means everyone will play against you as if they have nothing to lose, bringing out their best version. In her case, it's normal to feel that stress, but you have to be consistent all the time,” says the 29-year-old coach.

Many will remember Sabalenka's first arrival at the world Nº1 back in September 2023, a brief stay at the top that she barely got to savor for eight weeks, the time it took Iga Swiatek to conquer the WTA Finals and set things straight. This time, the Belarusian took the top spot last October and will remain there for quite some time, as she currently enjoys a gap of over a thousand points ahead of the Polish player. The comparison between the two scenarios is unavoidable, so it's time to listen to Dubrov to understand what Minsk's player learned in 2024.

“In her case, the key lies in finding a way to adapt to all situations, right now Aryna is much better at handling this aspect,” acknowledges her coach. "She understands even when she's not at her best level; I think that's what happened this year in China, where she didn't play her best because she was very tired at the end of the season. What did she do? She adapted to the situation and accepted that, even in those circumstances, she is capable of bringing out a high level of play and finding the way,” Anton recalls.

It was Dubrov's grandfather who connected their lives forever ten years ago when he was coaching a U14 girls' team in Belarus. Since then, they always kept in touch, with Anton starting as a hitting partner before becoming her head coach when the position became available. Many former players and tennis icons could have taken that seat, but Sabalenka always trusted her friend. Loyalty, trust, and clarity have been the pillars to continually reinforce this relationship.

“We had a conversation in 2022, the year she made so many double faults. That's when we brought in Gavin MacMillan to help us,” recalls the Belarusian about the period of high pressure. “The question is always finding a way to improve; otherwise, why work together? Today we're still going in that same direction, with a very stable environment, but tennis is always the priority. Each one covers their part, we want to keep progressing, but if this isn't fulfilled, we will need to sit down and find a new approach. Things change very fast in tennis; you have to think quickly because every week you have to prove why you are the Nº1,” he concludes.

A CHALLENGE FOR 2025

After conquering three Grand Slams and reaching the world Nº1 position twice, the feeling is that Aryna Sabalenka's party has just begun, although there are still balloons to inflate. Will we soon see her dominating on natural surfaces as effortlessly as she usually does on hard courts? This is where we encounter one of the main goals set for 2025, the intention to expand that territory beyond the Australian Open, the US Open, and similar tournaments.

“For us, that is the biggest challenge as a team, managing those transitions through preparation,” Dubrov points out without hesitation. “Between Roland Garros and Wimbledon, there's always a very tight period, with different surfaces, so everything depends on how you handle the calendar, how you prepare, and how you adapt. She is now doing much better at this; we see her with opportunities on all surfaces, but she still needs to focus and manage every detail before the tournament. The important thing is to give ourselves those chances,” the coach concludes.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sabalenka y las claves de su segundo asalto al Nº1