MADRID — Variety, without a doubt, has been finding its way into Aryna Sabalenka’s powerful tennis style. This strategic diversification is one of the main reasons she climbed to the top spot in the PIF WTA Rankings.
These subtle yet increasingly impactful additions – specifically, approaching the net more frequently and using drop shots with greater regularity – are expected to be evident this Friday at the Mutua Madrid Open as she faces qualifier Anna Blinkova in a second-round match.
“I think maybe on clay it’s a bit easier because the game overall is a bit slower,” Sabalenka commented on Wednesday in her pre-tournament press conference. “You have extra time.”
However, a conflicting thought then occurred to her.
“I don’t know, at the same time it’s easier and harder because I have more time and I have more options in my head,” Sabalenka admitted with a laugh, “and sometimes I get confused.”
Leading the rankings by over 3,000 points and the 2025 Race to the WTA Finals by more than 800 points, Sabalenka is clearly the standout player on the Hologic WTA Tour currently. Despite this, she is open about still learning how to fully integrate versatility into an approach that previously relied almost exclusively on raw power and strength.
“It’s a learning process and I’m not afraid to make mistakes,” Sabalenka stated. “I believe with practice I will learn how to make the correct decisions. It will enhance my game. I think on the clay court, it’s like a good opportunity to practice those types of shots.”
“You just have to ensure you select the appropriate one at the right moment.”
Moving Forward
Last autumn at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Sabalenka’s coach Anton Dubrov spoke about the ongoing search for new skills.
“We’re making an effort,” he mentioned, “to find areas where we can improve.”
This has been a continuous process.
Two years ago, double faults significantly impacted Sabalenka’s season. She recorded a remarkable 428 double faults on the WTA Tour in 2022, leading to a minus-179 overall ratio when factoring in 249 aces. Sabalenka brought biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan onto her team, and the issue was addressed.
In 2023, she hit 404 aces and 285 double faults, achieving a significantly improved plus-119 ratio. Perhaps not coincidentally, Sabalenka secured her first Grand Slam singles title in Melbourne and has won three of the last five majors played on hard courts.
And now, the current focus is literally on ‘moving forward’.
Dubrov is well aware of the common advice and has developed a clever response.
“Anyone can suggest, ‘Oh, yes, she needs to finish points at the net,’” Dubrov commented. “That’s good advice, similar to, ‘Don’t hit double faults.’ That’s also excellent advice.”
It is, however, much easier said than done.
“It needs to happen at the correct time,” Dubrov explained. “What is the structure of the point? Mentally, you need to intend to finish the point at the net.”
Consider this chart showing net approaches before the clay season:
Note the consistent rise in Sabalenka’s net approaches. When these numbers for 2021-24 were mentioned to him, Dubrov smiled, observing, “That’s a substantial increase.”
Since Sabalenka has played only 30 matches so far in 2025, it is too early to assess the current season definitively. However, in 2024, only three players – Tatjana Maria, Marta Kostyuk, and Leylah Fernandez – had more successful net approaches. Other players who consistently move forward and win points at the net include Elena Rybakina, Beatriz Haddad Maia, Jasmine Paolini, and Coco Gauff.
Variety Amplifies Power
This trend towards moving forward is welcomed by Martina Navratilova.
The 18-time Grand Slam singles champion was a pioneer of aggressive net play in women’s tennis. One of her frequent observations is when players do not fully utilize their power to end points more quickly at the net. Two players she has specifically mentioned in this context are Iga Swiatek and Sabalenka – the top two ranked players for over three years.
How important is it that Sabalenka has incorporated this aspect into her game?
“It’s incredibly important,” Navratilova stated, “because the margins in the game are so fine. By not advancing forward, you give your opponent a chance to recover and get back into the rally. Then you have to start over. You significantly increase your probability of winning the point by moving forward and executing the correct shot – and consequently, improving your chances of winning the match. Every small advantage helps.”
“Whether you execute the shot perfectly or not – you are attempting it. But deciding whether or not to move forward is a conscious choice. Sabalenka’s volleying has improved. She possesses more variety now. Having immense power is great, but when you combine it with variety – that power becomes even more effective.”
Jessica Pegula, who competed against Sabalenka in the Miami Open final, has also observed this change.
“She is moving considerably better, and I believe she is being a bit more creative on court,” Pegula noted. “So suddenly, it’s not just her power; it’s a lot of these other aspects she is performing better that might have previously been weaknesses. I think overall she has elevated many parts of her game.”
Similar to Sabalenka, Caroline Garcia is a power player known for her often surprisingly aggressive style. She believes that advancements in physical conditioning enable today’s players to achieve the best court coverage ever seen in the sport. Garcia explained that the intensity of shots from players like Sabalenka and herself frequently results in shorter replies from opponents – creating opportunities to close points at the net.
“It is quite advantageous to approach the net because you gain a lot of time against your opponent,” Garcia said. “And sometimes it is slightly easier because the ball will clear the net a bit higher, making it easier to finish. This is preferable to waiting for the ball to bounce – after which it slows down again and you have to apply power, which increases your risk slightly.”
“Therefore, it is generally a very effective way to conclude the point.”
Expect this tactic to be utilized even more in the future.
“It is still a work in progress,” Dubrov commented. “I would estimate around 50 to 60 percent completion. It is not fully there yet. But if you can add, say, five percent more approaches every six months, that is a significant gain.”
No Mere Drop in the Bucket
After securing the title last year in Wuhan, her third consecutive win there after a four-year break, Sabalenka discussed the development of her game.
“I have improved considerably,” Sabalenka stated. “I can come to the net and successfully finish the point, and I can also use my touch. I have added some variation to my repertoire. I consistently reminded myself that if I cannot powerfully hit or slice the ball, I should use a drop shot and approach the net.”
“I was simply reminding myself that I possess multiple strengths, not just hitting the ball hard.”
In practice, Sabalenka mentioned, she was capable of executing the drop shot. The challenge was integrating it effectively into match points. Last year, during her match against Elina Svitolina in Rome – while already experiencing the effects of a shoulder injury that would later cause her to miss Wimbledon – she resorted to it out of necessity.
“My only viable option was to end the point as quickly as possible,” Sabalenka recalled in Madrid. “I thought, ‘You know what, I am going to try drop shots.’ I believe the most effective training happens during a match. Following that match, I realized, ‘Oh, this actually works, maybe we should practice this shot more frequently.’”
“Five years ago, if someone had told me I would eventually learn how to perform this shot, I would have laughed. I thought I had no touch and was terrible at it. Now, I have this shot available.”
The element of surprise can be a decisive factor in any sport, particularly at the elite level. In tennis, serving wide when an opponent anticipates a shot down the middle is a winning tactic. Similarly, hitting crosscourt when the situation suggests a down-the-line shot. So, when Sabalenka’s powerful shots force opponents six or seven feet behind the baseline, she now has another option.
“When I observe the opponent positioned really far back,” Sabalenka explained, “I think, ‘Okay, I will just make them move.’ I am genuinely pleased that I have finally, finally mastered this shot.”
“I feel like I have some control over it now, which sounds crazy to say, honestly. Yes, it is simply beneficial to have, is it not? For me, that is, not for my opponent.”
