Aryna Sabalenka has transformed herself into the world’s best player.
She was always a player who possessed great power and passion for the game, but at times she struggled with the mental side of the game.
Furthermore, she also had issues with her serve and she previously hit numerous double faults during matches.
These things hampered her progress but Sabalenka has since worked on her issues and refined her game to become the world number one, just like two of her fellow Grand Slam champions, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova.
Photo credit should read SAEED KHAN/AFP via Getty ImagesAryna Sabalenka says what she liked about Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova as a youngster
Aryna Sabalenka is known for her impressive and aggressive game, and she possesses some of the hardest ground strokes on the WTA Tour.
She has been the dominant player on the women’s circuit since the start of 2024, having won three Grand Slams and claimed the world number one ranking.
The Belarusian has reached at least the semi-finals of the four Grand Slams and will aim to defend her US Open title at Flushing Meadows this year.
Williams and Sharapova both dominated the WTA Tour to varying degrees during their illustrious careers, and this inspired Sabalenka to do the same.
“I watched Serena and Sharapova’s matches in my early teens. I loved the way they were dominating the tour,” Sabalenka told Cosmopolitan.
“I wasn’t really crazy about someone, and there wasn’t someone who inspired me to be an athlete. I think it’s a good thing, because somehow I managed to be and stay in the moment and enjoy what I was doing at the time.”
Photo credit should read MAL FAIRCLOUGH/AFP via Getty ImagesComparing Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova’s tennis achievements
Williams and Sharapova are two of just 10 women to win all four Grand Slam singles titles.
The Russian completed the set by winning the 2012 French Open, while Williams finished her clean sweep of majors by winning the 2003 Australian Open.
Williams has 23 Grand Slams to five from Sharapova, while both players claimed the world number one ranking.
The American spent 319 weeks at number one, a record only bettered by Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova, while Sharapova spent 21 weeks in the top spot.
Their head-to-head rivalry was very one-sided, as Williams won 20 of her 22 matches against Sharapova, including 19 successive victories after the 2004 WTA Finals.