What Can Sabalenka Do To Finally Beat Swiatek On Clay?

[Lozo1016]

World #2 Aryna Sabalenka has faced World #1 Iga Swiatek on clay three times, losing all three matches. Swiatek is 6-0 in sets vs Sabalenka on clay: 6-2, 6-2, 6-2, 6-1, 6-3, 6-4.

She has another opportunity to take on Iga on clay in the Madrid Open final. What can Aryna do to finally get over the hump and beat Swiatek on clay? Does she have a chance?

 

[xFedal]

World #2 Aryna Sabalenka has faced World #1 Iga Swiatek on clay three times, losing all three matches. Swiatek is 6-0 in sets vs Sabalenka on clay: 6-2, 6-2, 6-2, 6-1, 6-3, 6-4.

She has another opportunity to take on Iga on clay in the Madrid Open final. What can Aryna do to finally get over the hump and beat Swiatek on clay? Does she have a chance?

Chance yes, be mentally strong, be aggressive, execute a good game plan, all this is easier said than done.

 

[Chanwan]

Madrid should help

 

[lizjo]

I really like Sabalenka and she's very powerful. Make sure the serve is steady, don't get frustrated. Stop grunting/but that's just for me. She probably can't do that as it's baked into her game at this point.

 

[gadge]

Madrid plays a bit like hard so that might help

 

[ronalditop]

Scream louder.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Pray

 

[DSH]

Scream louder.

 

[insideguy]

I mean I think some of us think if someone just works harder they can overcome a great clay courter. This isnt new. We have seen this with Nadal of course. But no one on earth could beat Chris Evert on clay for 7 straight years. When you have a dominant clay courter its really really hard. Evert didnt lose a clay court match for 7 years in a row. Which is crazy if you think about it. Somehow she didnt come out not feeling well or just had a bad day.

 

[MeatTornado]

Strategically? Nothing. Her only path to victory is the same as it always is, smack the ball and hope it lands in. If she gets in one of those grooves she can beat anyone. But good luck maintaining that throughout a match on clay against a defender as good as Iga.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Work just as hard as Iga does.

 

[tennis3]

Get a bigger cake

Alcaraz ain't losing in the finals. His cake was plenty big

 

[Benf15harp3000]

Hire Jeff Gillooly

 

[Dominic & Andrey]

Sabalenka is emerging as being a scary good #2, I am very excited to see this match. The match in Stuttgart was high level and closer than the score suggests.
On clay though, Swiatek has the clear edge.

 

[Tennfan123]

Blow her off court.

 

[Mark-Touch]

Just watch the replay of the Madrid final and see for yourself.

 

[Ronaldo]

Hire a Pro that handled this problem,

 

[tex123]

Madrid is hardly a classic clay tournament. Even Rafa struggles here. Can she do it elsewhere?

 

[ronalditop]

Yell louder.

Not working against Kenin right now though, thank god.

 

[tex123]

Didn't think so. She lost to Kenin. Madrid is not a regular clay tournament.