Tennis journalist Christopher Clarey recently compared the power exhibited by Aryna Sabalenka to that of Serena Williams. Sabalenka, who had never won a set against Iga Swiatek in three previous matches, managed to defeat the world number one in the Madrid Open. This victory marked her third tour title of the current season.
Improvements in Sabalenka’s Game
Clarey joined host Mitch Michals on the Tennis Channel Inside-In podcast to discuss Sabalenka’s recent triumph over Swiatek. He praised the significant improvements in the Belarusian player’s game, noting that tennis legends Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, and Tracy Austin had recognized Sabalenka’s potential to rise to prominence several years ago. Clarey highlighted that Sabalenka’s power is reminiscent of Williams’, saying, “I wouldn’t call it next-level power because it’s kind of Serena level power.”
Fixing Serving Woes and Boosting Movement
Sabalenka’s improved game can be owed to the fixes she made regarding her serve and the evident progress in her movement. Clarey attributed her enhanced performance to her ability to adapt to the competition from Swiatek’s stellar performances in 2022. He states that “One swipe of the racket, her movement has clearly improved…But I think Aryna Sabalenka’s package is a potent one.”
All-Court Player and Exciting Rivalries
In the same podcast, Clarey discussed his excitement for the emerging rivalries on the WTA tour, specifically between Sabalenka, Swiatek, and Elena Rybakina, stating that the WTA has had better matchups than the ATP this year. He also commended Sabalenka’s skills as an all-court player, referring to her as a “triple-surface threat” alongside Rybakina.
