She’s the world No. 2 but in a “staggering” display, Aryna Sabalenka showed even professional players can get the yips.
While Ash Barty has had a flawless preparation for the Australian Open, the same can’t be said for her closest rival in the rankings Aryna Sabalenka.
The world No. 2’s Aussie summer from hell continued on Tuesday when she lost to lowly-ranked Rebecca Peterson of Sweden 5-7 6-1 7-5 in her opening match of the Adelaide International 2.
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Sabalenka is yet to win a match this year after she also lost last week in her season opener in Adelaide to Slovenia’s world No. 100 Kaja Juvan.
The 23-year-old had been tipped for a big 2022 but a major flaw in her game has emerged in her first two matches of the year — she has completely lost confidence in her serve and is falling apart in matches as a result.
Against Peterson, Sabalenka couldn’t get a serve in to save herself, recording 21 double faults and more than 50 unforced errors.
Several of her serves either sailed way past the service box or barely made it the distance and hit the net.
At one stage the chair umpire even intervened, asking her if she was carrying an injury, to which Sabalenka responded: “Nothing is wrong. It’s a technical problem.”
Sabalenka was clearly angry with herself and threw her racquet onto the ground in frustration.
The Belarusian eventually resorted to hitting underarm serves just to get the ball in play, but they were not of the Nick Kyrgios trick shot variety and far too predictable.
Tennis fans were in disbelief at the capitulation of Sabalenka’s serve, which has traditionally been a strong point of her power-hitting style.
Tennis journalist Tumaini Carayol tweeted: “Alarming to see Aryna Sabalenka, the world number 2, resorting to underarm serves because she simply cannot serve properly right now.
“Two losses to start the season with 18 double faults (in two sets) and now 21 double faults against Rebecca Peterson today.”
Sports reporter Mark Gottlieb called Sabalenka’s loss of confidence in her serve “staggering”.
“One of the world’s best tennis players (Sabalenka is ranked TWO!!! in the world) has completely lost the ability to serve a week out from the first major of the year,” he said.
Tennis commentator Jose Morgado said: “Sabalenka can’t serve. What the hell is happening?”.
Tennid producer David Kane added: “I saw such big things for Sabalenka this season.
“She’d gotten so good at shaking off disappointments and really looked a millimetre away from winning a Slam last year.
“Hopefully she can solve these yips, and fast.”
After making the semi-finals of Wimbledon and the US Open in 2021, many pundits believed Sabalenka would be a major contender at grand slams this year.
American tennis legend Pam Shriver had even predicted she could take the world No. 1 ranking off Barty by the end of the season.
However, Sabalenka will now go in to the Australian Open seriously underdone.
In contrast, Barty is in red hot form having won both the singles and doubles titles in Adelaide and will go in as the favourite to win her home grand slam.