Aryna Sabalenka capped off a career-defining season by reclaiming the No. 1 ranking from her rival Iga Swiatek and finishing the year as the world’s top-ranked player for the first time. The 26-year-old accomplished this feat during the recently concluded WTA Finals, a bittersweet experience in which she fell short of the ultimate prize despite an otherwise stellar season. Though the tournament didn’t end as she might have hoped, Sabalenka’s 2024 campaign was marked by significant personal and professional milestones.
Sabalenka’s season was a rollercoaster filled with both triumphs and adversity. The year began on a somber note as she grappled with the emotional toll of losing a former boyfriend, a loss that profoundly affected her. Not long after, an illness interrupted her run at the French Open, marking the first time in two years that she failed to reach at least the semifinals of a Grand Slam. Further complications arose with a shoulder injury that forced her withdrawal from Wimbledon, presenting yet another setback.
Despite these challenges, Sabalenka demonstrated remarkable resilience, returning to the court with renewed focus and determination in the latter part of the season. Her comeback saw her achieve significant success, setting the stage for what promises to be another exciting year ahead. As Sabalenka prepares for 2025, fans and analysts alike are eager to see how she builds on her career-best season.
In 2024, Sabalenka achieved new personal records by capturing four titles in a single season and reaching seven finals, another career-best. Among her triumphs were two Grand Slam titles—at the Australian Open and the US Open—and two WTA 1000 titles, in Cincinnati and Wuhan. This impressive haul surpassed her previous record of three titles from six finals in 2023, underscoring her growth and consistency on the tour.
Sabalenka’s success this season was not without hard work and adjustment. After struggling with service issues in 2022, she enlisted the help of a biomechanics expert to fine-tune her technique. The results were clear in 2023, as her serve became a crucial weapon in her arsenal. Although she won slightly fewer service games this year—78.5% compared to 80.8% last year—her overall performance did not waver. Instead, Sabalenka compensated for this dip by enhancing her return game, increasing her percentage of return points won from 44.7% to 45.3%. Heading into the next season, she will focus on further harmonizing her serve and return to maximize their impact on her matches.
While her ground game was a highlight, Sabalenka’s performance occasionally faltered under pressure. This was evident during her semifinal loss to Coco Gauff at the WTA Finals, where she committed 47 unforced errors. Such lapses have proven costly, but Sabalenka is determined to eliminate these inconsistencies and develop strategies to overcome fellow top-ranked opponents with greater frequency.
One bright spot in Sabalenka’s 2024 campaign was her record against top-10 players. She achieved an impressive 11-5 win-loss record, including an eight-match winning streak. However, maintaining the top ranking comes with added expectations and challenges. In her brief stint as the world’s No. 1, Sabalenka has accumulated a 7-5 record but has yet to win a title while holding the top spot. This is partly due to her limited participation in only three tournaments as the top-ranked player. Still, Sabalenka will aim to further solidify her dominance in 2025.
With the season over, Sabalenka will take some time to rest and recover before resuming her training regime. She has consistently started strong in recent years and will strive to maintain that momentum when the new season kicks off.
Looking ahead, one of Sabalenka’s primary goals is to continue her dominance at the Australian Open, where she has enjoyed remarkable success. Since the start of 2023, she boasts a 22-1 record in Australia. Her journey began with a title in Adelaide, followed by her first Major victory at the Australian Open. In 2024, she added another chapter to her Australian story by finishing as the runner-up at the Brisbane International before successfully defending her Australian Open title. Sabalenka now has the chance to make history by becoming the first player since Martina Hingis (1997-1999) to win three consecutive Australian Open titles.
However, Sabalenka’s path to further glory in Australia will not be easy. Elena Rybakina has emerged as her primary rival on Australian soil. Rybakina defeated Sabalenka in the Brisbane final this year and pushed her to three sets in last year’s Australian Open final. Sabalenka leads their head-to-head 6-4 but has often required three sets to secure victory. The Kazakh star has also triumphed in four of their last six encounters, making their rivalry one to watch. To maintain her stronghold in Australia, Sabalenka will need to find ways to assert herself more decisively against Rybakina.
With the promise of new challenges and opportunities on the horizon, Aryna Sabalenka enters 2025 as a player eager to prove herself once more. Building on the highs and lessons of 2024, she will seek to cement her legacy further, aiming for consistency, resilience, and, above all, more championship victories.