Hard courts are definitely Aryna Sabalenka`s preferred surface, perfectly complementing her powerful style of play.

Her dominant victory over Jessica Pegula in the Miami Open final, with scores of 7-5, 6-2 on Saturday, confirms her exceptional form. Currently, on fast hard courts, she appears to be in a league of her own.

Pegula, ranked No. 4 in the WTA Tour, and aspiring to reach No. 3, is also known for her hard-court prowess. However, Sabalenka has consistently outperformed her, winning their last seven out of eight matches, all in straight sets.

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In a critical moment of the match, serving at 5-5, 0-15 in the first set, Sabalenka demonstrated her resilience by winning the next nine points consecutively, securing the set and eventually the match in approximately 40 more minutes.

Pegula noted Sabalenka`s ability to elevate her game during crucial moments as the key difference in their encounters, including their recent match.

Over the past two years in hard-court Grand Slams, betting on Sabalenka against any other player would have been successful three out of five times. Her dominance in women`s tennis is evident through several key statistics:

  • She holds 10,541 points in the WTA rankings, surpassing No. 2 Iga Swiatek by over 3,000 points, and crucially, she has no points to defend at Wimbledon.
  • This year, she leads in match wins (23), straight-set wins (20), and final appearances (four).
  • Against Top 10 players since last year, her record is 12-2, and she has hit the most winners this year with 716.

Remarkably, Sabalenka reached the finals of the Australian Open and Indian Wells this season, becoming only the third woman to reach the finals in Melbourne, Indian Wells, and Miami in the same season.

En route to her first Miami Open title, in her seventh attempt, Sabalenka defeated three Top 10 players: Pegula (No. 4), Paolini (No. 7), and Zheng Qinwen (No. 9), marking only the second instance in her career of such a feat. She conceded just 30 games throughout her six matches.

With six WTA 1000 hard-court titles, Sabalenka trails only Victoria Azarenka (10) and Serena Williams (8). At 26, she is clearly just beginning to reach her peak.

Sabalenka`s powerful game has evolved subtly. While her ace count has decreased, she has become a more effective server by aiming for targets with greater control. She has also increased her use of drop shots, and her slice has significantly improved this year. Against Pegula, almost 20% of her shots were slices, enhancing the effectiveness of her heavy top-spin groundstrokes.

Pegula acknowledged Sabalenka`s improved movement and addition of intangible shots like slices and dropshots. She believes these elements complement Sabalenka`s aggressive style, making her even more formidable.

You seemed determined to win your first Miami title, where you’ve had a home for more than three years — why was it so important to you?

Sabalenka: Winning Miami was crucial because I hadn`t performed my best in recent finals, and I wanted to overcome that mental hurdle. I`m thrilled I managed my emotions and played my best. Also, winning at home is fantastic. This trophy at home will be a cherished memory.

Statistics show you used slices nearly 20% of the time. How does this strategy enhance your game?

Sabalenka: I value variety in my game, and it`s vital to have different tools in my arsenal. Simply overpowering opponents isn`t enough to be the best. We`ve worked hard to incorporate these variations, and seeing the numbers is very encouraging. We will continue to develop my game`s versatility.

Fun Fact: Since 2017, you`ve won the most hard-court titles (17), five more than Iga Swiatek. Your thoughts?

Sabalenka: That`s incredible! But looking at clay-court stats, I`d be far behind Iga. It`s impressive and meaningful as it reflects my hard work. Seeing these results is amazing.

You`re over 3,000 points ahead of Swiatek and have no Wimbledon points to defend. Must feel good?

Sabalenka: I honestly don’t focus on rankings much. But it`s a significant lead. I`ll stay focused on improving and bringing my best game each time. I hope to keep extending my lead [laughs].

Excited for the clay season?

Sabalenka: I`m starting in Stuttgart, then Madrid, Rome, and Paris. I enjoy clay, despite doubts about my clay game. I know I can perform well. We`ll focus on fitness to ensure I can sustain long rallies. I’m excited and aim to perform strongly.

After two clay finals last year, will you win a clay title this year?

Sabalenka: [Laughs] Good question! I wish I could guarantee a win. I can`t say for sure, but I`ll bring high spirits and fight for every point. I hope to win those trophies.