How a solid Sabalenka reached the pinnacle of women's tennis

A season that gave her two Slams and as many WTA 1000 titles has seen her emerge as year-ending No.1

- Rutvick Mehta

A couple of points in her match against Jasmine Paolini at this week's WTA Finals in Riyadh highlighted why Aryna Sabalenka sits where she currently does - right at the top of her own game and the women's ranking charts.

In the first set, aware of Sabalenka's ferocious forehand force, Paolini kept peppering her backhand. Positioned perfectly at the centre of the court, Sabalenka returned every ball in kind. Running out of options and space on her backhand, Paolini finally switched sides and went to her forehand. Sabalenka opened up her left shoulder, extended her swing and blasted a crosscourt forehand winner.

In the second set, an angled crosscourt backhand from Paolini swept Sabalenka wide on the ad court. Sensing the Italian charging towards the net, the Belarusian, fully stretched and on the run, produced a fine lob. Caught surprised, Paolini backpedalled to barely place the ball across the net and keep the point alive. Sabalenka killed it with an inside-out forehand winner on the rise.

These are the kind of points and shots that have defined Sabalenka of 2024. One that isn't just about that fearsome forehand and punishing power. One that can thrive on a more solid all-round game, court movement and throw in the occasional variety with aplomb. One that doesn't crack quite as easily as before under sustained pressure.