World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka recently revealed the depths of her struggles with her serve in 2022, admitting she considered walking away from tennis entirely. Speaking ahead of the Prudential NextGen Aces event in Hong Kong, where she will be joined by tennis legend Andre Agassi, Sabalenka reflected on how her serving woes nearly ended her career but ultimately became a defining moment.
Leading into the 2022 Australian Open, Sabalenka endured a challenging start to the season, suffering first-round exits in both Adelaide tournaments. The primary culprit? An alarming number of double faults that plagued her game. Despite reaching the round of 16 at the Australian Open, her serving issues persisted, culminating in a staggering 428 double faults for the year—151 more than any other WTA player.
Desperate for a solution, Sabalenka sought help from biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan. His guidance proved transformative, helping her overhaul her serve and unlock her full potential. Since then, the Belarusian has soared, capturing four Grand Slam titles and claiming the world No. 1 ranking.
“I couldn’t get a single serve in. I was double-faulting 40 times in a match,” Sabalenka recalled, per AFP. “I thought maybe it was a sign I should quit. We tried everything to fix my serve, and nothing was working.”
Yet, Sabalenka’s resilience shone through. “I truly believe that when you’re on the verge of giving up, that’s the moment you can turn things around,” she said. “You just have to keep pushing and trying. That was the turning point for me.”
Her perseverance paid off, transforming her career and cementing her status as one of tennis’s brightest stars. Sabalenka’s journey from near-retirement to world No. 1 serves as a powerful reminder of the rewards of grit and determination.
