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In a recent episode of the Tennis Channel’s Inside-In podcast, former tennis player Andrea Petkovic analyzed how the defeat at the 2023 US Open against Coco Gauff was decisive for Aryna Sabalenka.
Petkovic explained how this match made the Belarusian realize she had a plan B and to add variety to her game. This translated into super performances displayed by Sabalenka at the 2024 Australian Open.
“I asked her: Aryna, you seem much more like an all-court player. What happened in the offseason, what was your thought process? She said: You know what, when I lost to Coco, I I realized I needed a plan B.
I was hitting the ball well. I was playing well, but Coco was catching up and at a certain point I didn’t know how to win a point or create a winner. So I was working on my net game, working on more variety.
I honestly think losing to Coco Gauff in the US Open final was the best thing that happened to Sabalenka because I had the chance to interview her right after she won the Australian Open.”
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