Aryna Sabalenka: I overcame my demons to win the US Open

Aryna Sabalenka sits once again as the dominant figure in women’s tennis after overcoming her demons to win a fourth grand slam title at the US Open.

The 27-year-old’s consistency at the majors is unmatched, with Sabalenka failing to reach the semi-finals just once in her last 12 appearances and making seven finals, including three this season.

But, until a 6-3 7-6 (3) victory over Amanda Anisimova at Flushing Meadows on Saturday, major question marks had resurfaced about Sabalenka’s ability to control her emotions.

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Against Madison Keys in the Australian Open final and particularly Coco Gauff in the French Open decider, Sabalenka had let her desire to win overwhelm her and suffered heartbreaking losses both times, while she was beaten again by Anisimova in the semi-finals at Wimbledon.

It was on a beach in Greece, with neurosurgeon James Doty’s bestselling book Into the Magic Shop as her holiday reading, that Sabalenka vowed to change her approach.

“Going into this final I decided for myself that I’m going to control my emotions, I’m not going to let them take control over me,” said Sabalenka as she sat in the press conference room, champagne bottle in hand.

Sat in the stands in New York, meanwhile, has been a new member of her team, former doubles world number one Max Mirnyi, who has tried to add an extra piece or two to the jigsaw.

“I was very much aware of the very quick and determined rise to the top but, at the same time, the resistance that Aryna and the team were facing already being on top,” said Mirnyi, who like Sabalenka and her main coach Anton Dubrov is Belarusian.

“Going through the tournaments in Melbourne and Paris this year, in London, we spoke briefly.