Aryna Sabalenka has received suggestions to consider changes to her coaching team following a disappointing year in Grand Slam tournaments. After holding the title of women's world No. 1 for 99 consecutive weeks, Sabalenka lost her ranking to rival Elena Rybakina last week, who also defeated her in a three-set final at the US Open, ending Sabalenka’s chance for a third consecutive title.
Read More
Following this loss, Sabalenka expressed her frustration by smashing her racket and directing an expletive at a camera operator. This prompted discussions about the need for change in her approach moving forward.
On a podcast, former world No. 1 doubles player Rennae Stubbs, alongside fellow analyst Andrea Petkovic, emphasized that Sabalenka must address her mentality during crucial matches. Currently, her coaching team includes Anton Dubrov, who has been with her for six years, fitness coach Jason Stacy, hitting partner Andrei Vasilevski, and data scientist Shane Liyanage. Under Dubrov’s guidance, Sabalenka won four Grand Slam titles and held the top ranking for 106 weeks.
Despite these achievements, Stubbs pointed out that Sabalenka has won only one of her last five major finals. She believes that while a coaching change may not be necessary, Sabalenka might benefit from someone who could provide tougher feedback regarding her on-court behavior under pressure.
Stubbs expressed optimism about Sabalenka’s chances for the upcoming Australian Open, stating, "I think she will probably win the Australian Open," provided she reflects on improving her mindset. Meanwhile, Petkovic supports the idea of adding new team members but insists that keeping Dubrov on board is crucial.
As Sabalenka prepares for her next tournament, it remains uncertain how she will recover after her recent setbacks.