Wearing your own heart on your sleeve is one of the things that Sabalenka appreciates for his fans.
Frowning, narrow eyes and lips often follow the missed shots. The roar of relief greets him at a critical moment.
Sabalenka’s team – led by longtime coach Anton Dubrov, partnered with Andrei Vasilevski and fitness coach Jason Stacy – felt the power of her keen gaze and annoyed bursts.
When she caught the public trophy of the United States again, she apologized and reiterated her “love” for them.
Sabalenka hired another 10-time Grand Slam champion, Max Mirnyi, to support her team, who is the second coach of the final of the season.
Mirnyi said the team operated on a simple principle with the goal of guiding her to another New York championship – her game wasn’t broken and therefore didn’t need a fix.
He told BBC Sport: “She will certainly not be broken – she is the top player in the world, won the best games, defeated the best players time and time again.”
“It’s just a matter of constantly evolving and improving the game and trying to add different aspects.
“Maybe more forceful and dominant in serving, trying to enhance her strong terrain by completing some balls online.
“She quickly caught what I mentioned and we’ve been working on it.”
Sabalenka seeks inner peace in order to execute her technical skills at high pressure moments in court.
Working with a psychologist for several years helped her become a Grand Slam champion, but she realized she was “relying on too much” to experts and wanted to “figure things” herself.
Post-week trips in Mykonos, Greece provide opportunities for further self-analysis.
It is also helpful to read a book recommended by a friend – about utilizing the power between the mind and the mind.
She added: “I realized a lot of things when I read that book.”
“It really helped me stay focused and focus on the right points.”
