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New York – Just a few seconds after the Australian Open Final concluded in January, Arina Sabalenka He took off her racket over a chair in court in disgust.
Madison Keys He took off an upset – and Sabalenka had just missed to win his third consecutive title in Major. Her disappointment could be felt through television screens around the world.
Sabalenka had its chance for great glory, but again, just a few months later, in the final in Roland Garros. And she lost there this time Coco Gauffand could not hide anger in postmatch speech and a press conference, both Who soon went the virus in all the wrong reasons.
Weeks later, in Vimbledon, she fell Amanda Anisimova In the semifinals in a three-set trip. She went to court and tournament, decorated and confused. She was world no. All the seasons and won two titles at 1000 levels, but she just couldn’t do it when it was important. She separated some time away from tennis and tried to reset and learn from everything that happened throughout the season.
The 27-year-old Sabalenka arrived in New York hungry – desperately, even to use the year and concluded their main season defended her title.
On Saturday, all solid losses and repeated agony defeat felt in the entire season felt it was worth it. Jason Stacy, the coach of her performance, said she began reading a motivational book called “in magic” after Roland Garros. He called it “fairy tales” – and she had her fairy tale in New York.
Anysovi turned again, although this time in front of the crowd is strongly in favor of America at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Sabalenka claimed her fourth main name Sometimes burbulent 6-3, 7-6 (3) win in 94 minutes.
Turning off the title at her third place, in otherwise Tiebreak, Sabalenka watched Anisima’s return for a long time. She fell on her knees and put her head in his hands, shaking while taking tears worth nine months. The crowd jumped to collective feet and screamed under the closed roof. Sabalenka remained in the field for a few seconds before standing and raised her hands on the celebration.
She just got it The first woman who repeated as a champ then Serena Williams did it more than a decade – and avoided becoming the first woman to lose in three main finals in one season since Justine Henin 2006. years. After she went through what went through, and all the pain she endured, her relief was tangible.
“These two finals I completely lost control of my emotions, I just didn’t want us to do this,” Sabalenka radiation was soon after the interview on ESPN broadcast. “And there are a few moments where you close to Just Letting It Go. But and was like, ‘coma on now. You cannot do that. You just have to stay focused and keep going, keep trying and keep going.’ And he really helped me. “
There was never any doubt in Sabalenkin’s power or talent, nor her work ethic or ambition.
While never a younger star like many of his peers – Anisimova won the US girl title 2017. years – Sabalenka achieved success in his early years as professional and quickly rose to the rows. By 2018, she won her first VTA title and was a comprehensive age of the year. Until next year, she won her first main name on the United States opened in pairs.
But Sabalenka, like many tennis players, is a perfectionist by nature. She knows how good she is when she can be at best and she was tirelessly she managed to find her game to be at the elite level. When she fought with a service 2022. years – something that has become so mutilated in court that she considered retirement – she led a biomechanical expert to help her cross her service before reconsidering her. For many years, it takes care of too much time – almost impossible in the hard schedule of VTA – and it was difficult when it came in practice if there were any signs of rust.
That commitment helped lead to stunning successes. Since he reached his first large semifinals on Vimbledon 2021. years, switching exclusively in Singles that earlier, despite many, encouraged to continue with both, Sabalenka was the most popular player on tour. After receiving trouble under control of next year, it reached quarterfinals or better in every larger one played and advanced to four of the last five finals and all six previous hard finals. She held Rank 1. October and showed several signs to give up.
But with all that, there was a level of expectation of high heave and she put an even higher degree of pressure on themselves. If you do not achieve what it knows that it has led to the melting, such as racket-breaking in Melbourne, as well as her speech and comments in Paris. After 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 loss of Gauff on the French open final, Sabalenka was in tears, and later blamed the thick wind for her performance.
“The conditions were terrible and it was simply better in these conditions than me,” Sabalenka told reporters. “I think that was the worst final I’ve ever played.”
Sabalenka immediately called a painful loser, and some other comments about Gauffs received the public weakly. (She later apologized, and Gauff had accepted.) Sabalenka and her team then focused on the challenge so that Sabalenka could find a way to win the best or not played her best or conditions were not ideal.
MakimFormer world in pairs no. 1 and six-time champions in pairs, he joined Sabalenka’s team on the eve of the hard court – and he continued to repeat that lesson during his time together.
“One of my major startlines enters the team and speaks sometimes Arina directly transmits the message that there is no perfect tennis match,” Mirnii said on Friday. “There is no perfection on the tennis court. You can take the best matches (Novak) Djokovic I (Roger) Federer or Steffi Graph … There will always be some things that did not go according to plan, and they are better champions that know how to sign out and adapt to the moment, on the move. “
It is something that her team could consider and remind Sabalenka every time he plays on Ashe, as a poster with “Billie Jean King” is a privilege “in a prominent view is the entrance of the court.
The group is also reminiscent of the second, lesser known, part of the king’s quote: “Champion setting”.
With the king in stands on Saturday, as well as a number of other former tennis champions, including Tracy Austin, Monica Seles, Andy RoddickStan Smith and Virginia Wade, Sabalenka did just that.
Twice more rest in the second set and looks good on the way to victory, Sabalenka struggled to close him. Serving at 5-4 and just two points of distance from the trophy, Sabalenka hit what was supposed to be a simple upper cut to the net. She threw a racket on the ground in apparent disbelief. Anisimova then won the next point to take a break, and even set on 5-everyone.
Sabalenka received journalists that almost “lost” after a missed head broken, but found a way to remain composed.
“You can’t make such mistakes at important points,” she said. “Sometimes it can be crucial, from my experience. So yes, it was a moment, but then I turned and took a deep breath, and I have been focusing on the next one. Let’s focus on the next one.
Two more games later and is unresolved, but instead of pressure under pressure, Sabalenka – who won the previous 19 Tembal – has taken control. As she needed three matches, and she drove deep before everyone, the outcome seems to be hard in doubt and additional points were just a mere formality.
After the first time announced as it was opened in 2025. Sabalenka, Sabalenka found their team in her box. While many players flee the court and stairs, because Sabalenka had previously used fans, walking and high fans before accepting each member of her coaching staff, as well as her agent and friends.
“I mean, this year it was hard with that final,” Sabalenka said later during the trophy presentation as she addressed her team. “I was really terrible for you, but come on. It’s worth it, don’t you? Thank you very much. I love you. You are my family.”
With thousands of fans, Sabalenka said that they would drink a few drinks because, “you need to enjoy it, whatever it was clear that it was the last end loss at the moment, it was sweeter on Saturday.
And while watching the swollen face of Anisimova, painted with his own tears after she lost her in the second principal principal final, as she stood on the stage who held her race trophy, Sabalenka could not help, but that it felt.
“I know how much hurts the finals of the finals,” Sabalenka said as she turned and looked at Anisimov. “But trust me, the moment you win in your first, and you will win … you will enjoy it even more after all hard losses in the final.”
