World No. 4 Jessica Pegula shared her thoughts on the challenges of playing against Aryna Sabalenka after losing to the Belarusian player in the Miami final (5-7, 2-6).
“It’s not really about feeling some extraordinary power,” Pegula commented. “There are definitely players who hit with more force, but I think Sabalenka is exceptionally good at executing her first couple of shots. She’s very aggressive right from the start, not letting you take control of the rally. She has improved her movement a lot, added variety with slices and drop shots, and uses them more effectively. And of course, her serve is a weapon.”
Pegula continued, “She performs at a very high level in many aspects. Everyone talks about her aggressive style, and it`s undeniable, but she’s always had that. So, her strength now is more about incorporating those additional shots, which make her aggressive game even more potent,” Pegula explained during the press conference.
The American player also emphasized that she values matches against top-ranked opponents.
“We all measure ourselves against each other, to be honest. Iga Swiatek had a year when she was practically unbeatable, and lately, Aryna has been almost unstoppable, especially on hard courts. You have to accept this challenge and the fact that they are not at the top for no reason. If you aim to win major titles, you must beat such opponents. Maybe not every time, as they can lose earlier in tournaments, but facing them in a final is a privilege. Because you know that such a victory, if it happens, will be even more special.”
“I definitely enjoy these kinds of tests, even though matches against her can be a bit frustrating for me. I`m not sure if I would have improved as much against someone else. Aryna pushed herself during Iga`s exceptional year and then saw how much she improved. It’s always a challenge when you are both striving for the top.”
