Aryna Sabalenka's journey to a US Open title didn't spring from eye-catching mobility, nor delicate ground strikes. No, Sabalenka's game revolved around her power. And it was that match-tilting force that carried her past American Jessica Pegula and to her third Grand Slam.
Sabalenka is not merely one of the hardest-hitting women in the WTA circuit. She's one of the hardest-hitting players in all of tennis, regardless of gender. She reaffirmed that status throughout her time in and around Arthur Ashe Stadium, firing off countless scorching attempts to leave her opposition reeling. In the process, she made tournament history, not only hoisting the famous US Open trophy, but also outshining all other competitors in various shot speed-related metrics.
Here's what you need to know.
How fast can Aryna Sabalenka hit?
Sabalenka hits like a truck. Her shot speed is among her most valuable traits as a tennis player. And it's helped her achieve great success in 2024. The Belarusian had one career Grand Slam win to her name entering into the season. Now, she has three.
Sabalenka's stats reveal just how much force she latches onto her strikes, including that venomous serve.
The World's No. 2-ranked player routinely touches 120 mph with her serve, a shadowy figure that tends to slip past surveillance for aces when Sabalenka's at her best. Per Statista, she recorded a 121.16 mph serve at this year's Australian Open, the second-fastest speed among women who competed in the tournament (behind only Coco Gauff's 124.89 mph mark).
Her match against Pegula garnered even more attention. Although Sabalenka lost a couple ticks on her serve, she posted the fastest service strike of the tournament on the women's side vs. Pegula, recording a scorching 119 mph effort to bypass the American's outstretched grasp.
Sabalenka's serve is daunting. But her forehand might be the most overwhelming part of her game. The Belarusian swats away efforts that land along her right side with frightening pace and accuracy. In fact, her forehand could — and would — stifle men's players, too. Her average forehand top spin speed sits at 129 km/h, faster than that of the present "Big Three" of Carlos Alcaraz (127 km/h), Jannik Sinner (126 km/h) and Novak Djokovic (122 km/h).
Sabalenka was asked about her performance compared to her men counterparts in an interview following her victory over Elise Mertens in the fourth-round of this year's tournament.
“I saw my stats on my forehand and I actually can’t believe it’s that fast,” Sabalenka said. “It felt kind of uncomfortable being at the top and even hitting harder than guys. That’s a really interesting stat.”
Sabalenka's strikes brought her glory throughout the 2024 season and should continue as she sets her sights on additional Grand Slam titles in 2025 and beyond.
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