World No. 4 Jessica Pegula commented on the difficulties in playing against Aryna Sabalenka. She had recently lost to the Belarusian player in the Miami final (5/7, 2/6).
Pegula stated, “I wouldn`t say I feel any particular power. Although there are tennis players with more powerful shots, Sabalenka is excellent at starting rallies, her first two shots. She is aggressive from the very beginning, not allowing you to seize the initiative. She has significantly improved her movement, added slices and drop shots to her arsenal, and now executes them better. And, of course, her serve.”
She continued, “Sabalenka does many things at a very high level. Everyone talks about her aggressive style of tennis, and it`s undeniable, but she`s always had it. Therefore, her strength now lies in her ability to use these new elements, which make her aggressive style even more effective.”
The American player also noted that she values matches against the strongest opponents.
“Essentially, we all compare ourselves to others. Remember the year when Iga Swiatek was virtually unbeatable, and in the last year, Aryna has become almost unstoppable, especially on hard courts. We need to accept the challenge and realize that they are not at the top by chance. To win major titles, it`s necessary to defeat such opponents. Of course, not always, as they can lose earlier, but meeting them in a final is a privilege. Because a victory over them, if it happens, will be especially valuable.”
Pegula concluded, “I definitely love such challenges, even though matches with her can irritate me a little. I`m not sure if I could win against someone else. Aryna, seeing Iga`s success in that outstanding year, pushed herself to grow and saw how much she had improved. It`s always an incentive when you strive for the top together.”
