Aryna Sabalenka is someone who has always worn her heart on her sleeve.
Fortunately, she participates in arguably the most emotional sport there is, with almost every tennis player suffering from the incredible highs and crushing lows that just one match can offer.
However, in the Roland Garros final, we saw the very worst of the Belarusian, who capitulated as the conditions conspired against her.
Coco Gauff, meanwhile, took full advantage, claiming her second Grand Slam title, both of which came by beating Aryna Sabalenka in the final.
Losing big matches is commonplace in a sport like tennis, but dealing with such setbacks is what truly makes a great player. Fortunately, the world number one knows exactly what she needs to do to rectify her issues.
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Jason Stacy, her performance coach, seems to be a capable pair of hands when it comes to navigating Sabalenka through such tough territory.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Served with Andy Roddick podcast, he actually detailed the change he and the team have made to ensure there is not another collapse, both physically and mentally, at this year’s French Open.
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The American revealed: “Well, to be honest, like, a big focus for us right now is just to manage her energy a lot more, especially going into the European season, because, you know, last year was an important lesson that we were realising.
“You know, a couple of years ago, she was very consistent, getting deeper into the tournament over the last few years, you know, off and on a bit longer now. Last year, it was pretty much just, if she’s in the tournament, she’s going to be in the final. Or very, very close to that, if not winning it.
“And so it’s a lot of matches, you know, coming into the clay-court season last year, she had, you know, Brisbane, the Australian Open, you know, we had Indian Wells final, Miami winning, you know, and then just a short time, boom, she’s in Stuttgart, and then she went to, like, finals, finals, finals, quarters, you know, and then to the final of the French Open, so by the time she got to the French Open, I mean, she was so exhausted, because she had played so many matches.
“And, you know, by the time she got to the final, she was so depleted, just her energy and her ability to control her emotions and stay focused. It just like, ran right through her.”
Some players could have hidden after such a high-profile loss, but not Sabalenka. She dusted herself off and went on to win the US Open, having reached the final of three of the four majors that year.
Stacy explained how they learned from that Roland Garros disappointment, adding: “So it was a good lesson for all of us to realise, like, okay, we should just accept the fact and expect that, well, if we show up somewhere, we’re going to get to the final, and start to understand that we need to manage that as far as schedule goes, as far as all the things we do outside of the courts, how she’s managing all her obligations, like with sponsors and whatnot.
“So that’s been a big focus the last year and a half, but especially this year, now coming into the French Open.
“The last three years at the French Open, she showed up sick, you know, like unwell, so it’s like, okay, we, we gotta add or tweak some things there. So that’s kind of our focus from my perspective right now.”
The reaction to Aryna Sabalenka’s controversial comments after the French Open final
The main thing that came out of last year’s French Open final was Sabalenka’s controversial comments about Gauff afterwards. Speaking in her press conference, she insisted that it was the worst match she had ever played, that the conditions lost her the match, and that Iga Swiatek would not have lost to Gauff.
Tracy Austin condemned Sabalenka afterwards for her inability to deal with the conditions, whilst Novak Djokovic offered his measured reaction to the comments, claiming: “I think, well, in the end, she clarified it.
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“And look at if it happens and maybe came out in a wrong way, but she didn’t mean to disrespect Coco and so most of the times I had, you, Grand Slam finals with opponents in the last 20 years, the majority of the times was always quite respectful, both ways when I win or lose with my opponents so.”
And yet, in the end, Sabalenka claimed she was happy that this controversy had occurred, having made up with Gauff in time for them to practice together at Wimbledon.
It will be intriguing to see whether the 27-year-old can exorcise her Roland Garros demons this year and claim the title.
