Rick Macci: Australian Open Loss Will Make Aryna Sabalenka ‘Mentally Stronger’
Former Serena Williams coach Rick Macci believes that Aryna Sabalenka will emerge mentally stronger after her Australian Open final defeat and elevate her game to new heights.
Macci: Sabalenka Will ‘Elevate’ to Another Level
World No. 1 Sabalenka returns to action for the first time since her Australian Open loss at the upcoming Qatar Open, set to begin next week.
The Belarusian was defeated 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 by Madison Keys in the Melbourne final, ending her 20-match winning streak at the tournament and preventing her from completing a three-peat.
Following the defeat, Sabalenka faced criticism for her post-match reaction. However, Macci believes the loss will only make her stronger.
Writing on Twitter/X, the renowned coach—who has trained Venus and Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, and Andy Roddick—praised Sabalenka’s raw power and predicted a bright future:
“Sabalenka will become mentally stronger after losing to Keys.”
“She has the best flat-out, pure raw firepower on tour, and now her mindset will elevate to another level of determination. Many Grand Slams will be her destination.”
Sabalenka’s Path at the Qatar Open
Sabalenka is a former Doha champion, having won the title in 2020 with a victory over Petra Kvitova in the final. However, her recent results in Qatar have been mixed:
- 2021: Lost in the second round as the defending champion
- 2022: Quarter-final exit
- 2023: Did not participate
Now returning as the top seed, Sabalenka has a first-round bye and will face either Ekaterina Alexandrova or Emma Raducanu in the second round.
Her projected path to the title includes:
✅ Round 3: Possible clash with 14th seed Anna Kalinskaya
✅ Quarter-final: Likely meeting with 6th seed Jessica Pegula
✅ Semi-final: Potential showdown with World No. 3 Coco Gauff
✅ Final: A likely blockbuster against World No. 2 Iga Świątek, the three-time defending champion in Doha
Can Sabalenka Extend Her Lead at No. 1?
Sabalenka currently holds 8,956 ranking points, just 186 points ahead of Świątek after losing 700 points from her Australian Open final defeat.
However, she has a major opportunity to extend her lead over the coming months:
✔️ No points to defend in Doha (she withdrew in 2024)
✔️ Świątek has 1,000 points to defend as the reigning champion
✔️ More chances to gain points in Dubai, Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, and Rome
With Świątek under pressure to defend her ranking points, Sabalenka could solidify her position at No. 1—starting with a strong performance in Doha.
Will she bounce back and reclaim her dominance? 🎾🔥
