World number one Aryna Sabalenka is facing criticism over her mentality following a series of unexpected defeats, but she has the firm support of former world number one Caroline Wozniacki. The Belarusian player, despite winning three titles in four finals this year, has not reached a final since her victory at the Miami Open, where she completed the Sunshine Double.
During the clay court season, Sabalenka reached the quarter-finals in Madrid and Roland Garros, having been eliminated in the third round in Rome. In the grass court season, she fell in the semi-finals of the Berlin tournament and in the fourth round at Wimbledon, where she lost to Naomi Osaka in a straight-sets defeat – her first since the US Open 2020. Following these results, questions arose about whether the player was struggling with mental difficulties.
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Caroline Wozniacki, in an interview with Tennis365, came to the defense of the current world number one: “No, I think it's tough, right? We expect so much from her. We expect her to easily reach the finals every week and win everything, but she is human. There are many players who work hard every day, who watch her and analyze every move she makes on the court. It's complicated. As humans, we will have ups and downs.” The former world number one also acknowledged Naomi Osaka's quality during their encounter at Wimbledon: “I think Naomi played extremely well. She deserved to win that match, just based on the tennis she displayed. It was the best tennis I've seen her play in a while. Sometimes we have to congratulate the opponent.”
Wozniacki also expressed confidence in Sabalenka's recovery during the fast-court season, with the Belarusian player preparing to compete at the Canadian Open.
Meanwhile, Dmitry Tursunov, former coach of Aryna Sabalenka from 2018 to 2020, also commented on the current phase of his former player. In statements to Championat, Tursunov stated that Sabalenka “is missing strong and consistent rivals on the women's circuit” and that this may be contributing to her recent inconsistency. “If, for example, Elena Rybakina had maintained the same level of consistency over the last three or four years, she would be alongside Aryna. Instead, we see ups and downs – sometimes she plays well, other times not.”
Rybakina defeated Sabalenka in the Australian Open final, but then lost to her in the Indian Wells final. The head-to-head matchup between the two has been marked by alternating victories, indicating the competitiveness between them. Sabalenka, who successfully defended her US Open title last year, could lose her ranking lead if she fails to replicate her victory at the Major in New York.
This phase of challenges places Aryna Sabalenka under intense media and sporting pressure, but support from figures like Caroline Wozniacki could be crucial for her return to winning ways. The next test will come during the hard court season, where the Belarusian is expected to showcase her best tennis once again.
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