Aryna Sabalenka Is “More Dangerous Than Any Player,” and Serena Williams’ Former Coach Reveals Why He Thinks So
For some time, Aryna Sabalenka has been right on the verge of a major title. After two runner-up finishes at Indian Wells and a Miami campaign that never quite clicked, the question lingered: Could she secure the win in a big event? Following disappointing losses in the Australian Open and Indian Wells finals this year, many wondered if Sabalenka could finally seal the deal. But Sabalenka is known for bouncing back stronger, and that’s exactly what she did on Saturday. She claimed the Miami Open title and proved she’s more than capable of closing out major hard-court events. Not only did she win, but she also ended her streak of final losses—a sweet victory indeed. Even Rick Macci, Serena Williams’ former coach, took notice.
In the final, Sabalenka faced fourth-seed Jessica Pegula. She didn’t just win—she dominated, clinching a 7-5, 6-2 victory. The first set was a thrilling battle with seven breaks of serve, both players alternating momentum. At 5-5, Sabalenka broke Pegula to love, taking control of the match. From there, she never looked back.
Pegula struggled against Sabalenka’s relentless power, with her serve faltering under pressure. While Pegula only hit 12 winners, Sabalenka blasted 31, overwhelming her opponent on her way to the title. When Sabalenka broke Pegula at 5-2 in the second set, the match and the championship were secured. Sabalenka stormed through the Miami Open without dropping a set. Impressed? Rick Macci certainly was!
Macci, in a post on X, praised Sabalenka’s fearless game. “What I love most about Sabalenka and her game is THE BIG C. Courage. There’s a fine line between courage and stupidity, but she takes charge every match. BANG! Zero fear from ear to ear @SabalenkaAryna,” Macci wrote.
He continued, highlighting her power and precision: “3 big ticket items—Forehand, Backhand, Serve as a package is biomechanically by far the best of the rest. That alone makes Sabalenka more armed and dangerous than any player. She goes into combat with the most powerful weapons.”
A Tough Road to the Top:
Sabalenka’s journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Just two years ago, she was plagued by serving issues, racking up an astounding 428 double faults in a single season. At one point, her confidence was so low that she resorted to underarm serves to get the ball in play. But instead of letting those struggles define her, Sabalenka learned from them. In her Miami final, she fired 3 aces and had 66% of her first serves go in. After the match, the World No.1 opened up about her determined mindset.
“I struggled a lot in the past with different challenges, and I struggled with my serve so much that I couldn’t serve for a while,” she explained. “That was when I realized I have other weapons in my game, and I can still win even if my serve isn’t working.”
Sabalenka also discussed her mentality heading into the final: “I had the mentality to stay there and focus on myself, to fight for every point. I didn’t want to lose another final. Losing in a final is tough, so I was ready for a battle.”
Sabalenka’s Miami Open Victory: A Historic Milestone
Sabalenka’s Miami Open win doesn’t just add another title to her collection—it places her in elite company.
Just over a decade ago, Serena Williams achieved a similar feat, defeating three top-10 opponents to claim the Miami Open title in 2014. Sabalenka matched this achievement by defeating Zheng Qinwen (quarters), Jasmine Paolini (semis), and Jessica Pegula (final), all without dropping a set.
Sabalenka’s dominant run included a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Zheng in the quarterfinals, a 6-2, 6-2 win against Paolini in the semifinals, and a composed 7-5, 6-2 victory over Pegula in the final. Her Miami Open victory marks her eighth WTA 1000 singles title, tying her with Maria Sharapova. Among active players, only Serena Williams (13), Victoria Azarenka, Iga Swiatek (10 each), Simona Halep, and Petra Kvitova (9 each) have more WTA 1000 titles.
Additionally, Sabalenka’s win makes her the fourth player this century to win the Miami Open while ranked No.1 in the world, joining Martina Hingis (2000), Serena Williams (2003, 2013-2015), and Ashleigh Barty (2021).
Looking Ahead:
With the Miami Open behind her, the clay season looms. Sabalenka’s game is built on power, but the question remains: Can she translate her hard-court dominance to the slower surface? The challenge is on, and Sabalenka is ready. What do you think? Is she ready to conquer the clay and claim a major title on the surface?
