Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner, champions of the Australian Open, have taken divergent paths following their triumphs, with Sinner securing another victory in Rotterdam to ascend to the top three in men’s singles, while Sabalenka suffered an early loss to Donna Vekic in Dubai.
Assessing the outcomes on the latest episode of Racquet’s Rennae Stubbs Podcast, former doubles World No. 1 Rennae Stubbs noted the notable difference in results between the two players. While acknowledging the uncertainty regarding Sabalenka’s practice regimen post-Australian Open, Stubbs suggested that Sabalenka might be prioritizing Wimbledon and the US Open.
“I think Aryna Sabalenka’s probably focused on Wimbledon and the US Open,” remarked Rennae Stubbs. “But it was interesting that she lost so early. Look, Donna Vekic is a great player, but I don’t know how much practicing Aryna Sabalenka would have been doing after the Australian Open.”
“But yeah, it’s very different from what Jannik Sinner was able to do immediately after winning the Australian Open,” she added.
Stubbs previously discussed the determination required for players to pursue further success after clinching their inaugural Grand Slam, suggesting that only those willing to endure hardship emerge victorious on multiple occasions. She characterized Sabalenka as one such player.
“I think that if If you are happy and this is the issue,” Stubbs commented. “Now, if you are happy with it and you get complacent and then you don’t have the desire to want to put yourself on the line anymore because it is so stressful to win a Grand Slam.”
“You’ve got to want to have the desire to go through that pain and not be satisfied and not be content,” she continued. “I think if you’re content with one, you probably won’t win two… I think Aryna Sabalenka is fine.”
