Aryna Sabalenka said a change in mentality to block out "negative emotion" has been key to her strong start to the season after the Belarusian fifth seed eased into the Australian Open quarter-finals on Monday.
Sabalenka has long been viewed as a major-champion-in-waiting but three semi-final appearances – at the last two US Opens and Wimbledon in 2021 – have been her best showings to date, with untimely dips in form and focus often blamed for her lack of Grand Slam success so far.
However, the 7-5, 6-2 victory over Swiss 12th seed Belinda Bencic in the fourth round at Melbourne Park showed no signs of the nerves that have afflicted the talented Belarusian's game in the past.
The 1hr 27min demolition on Rod Laver Arena set up a clash against Donna Vekic in the last eight after the unseeded Croatian ended the dream run of 17-year-old Czech Linda Fruhvirtova 6-2, 1-6, 6-3.
Sabalenka dropped her serve early in the first set, something that might have precipitated a loss of confidence or even a bout of the serving "yips" in the past. But the 24-year-old demonstrated her new-found mental steel, and rapier serve, to stay patient before breaking back and taking the match by the scruff of the neck.
"My whole life it took me a little while to understand that negative emotion is not gonna help you on court," said Sabalenka, who won the Adelaide International title in the lead-up to the Australian Open.
"You have to just stay strong and believe no matter what, and then do everything you can. So just super happy with the mindset during the game today. I did a wonderful job."
With the early exits of top seed Iga Swiatek and world No 2 Ons Jabeur, Sabalenka is among the favourites to win the first Grand Slam of the season, but she
tennis
Iga Swiatek
Belinda Bencic
Aryna Sabalenka
Linda Fruhvirtova
Donna Vekic