“Aryna Sabalenka is more consistent than Iga Swiatek” - Jimmy Connors and son Brett sing praises of 'likable' Belarusian after US Open 2024 triumph
Jimmy Connors and his son Brett praised Aryna Sabalenka following the Belarusian's triumph at the 2024 US Open. Brett also claimed Sabalenka is a more consistent performer than her rival and World No. 1 Iga Swiatek.
In Flushing Meadows, Sabalenka went past the likes of Priscilla Hon, Lucia Bronzetti, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Elise Mertens, Zheng Qinwen, and Emma Navarro before taking down Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 in the final.
She failed to win the US Open in 2023, losing the summit clash to Coco Gauff. But she bounced back to defend her title at the 2024 Australian Open a few months later before taking her Grand Slams tally to three with her exploits in New York.
Sabalenka's efforts have earned her applause from former World No. 1 Jimmy Connors and his son Brett.
"Sabby [Aryna Sabalenka] is just likable like even if she doesn’t win the match, she’s funny, she doesn’t take herself too serious, she can laugh at herself. She seems to do well now with when something goes against her, she’s able to bounce back and make up for it," Brett said (at 9:47) in the latest episode of Advantage Connors podcast.
Brett insisted that the World No. 2 has been more consistent than Iga Swiatek.
"Last year, she lost that US Open final to Coco and then went into Australia determined and just kind of blew through that field, won her second Australian Open. She wanted to probably avenge last year’s US Open kind of again and kind of rolls through the field again. So, she’s more consistent than Iga," he added.
Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion, has ended as a Major quarterfinalist only twice, at Wimbledon (2023) and the US Open (2024), since winning the New York Major in 2022 apart from her exploits at the French Open.
"I think, Iga’s won five Slams to Sabby’s three but Iga’s got four of them at Roland Garros and the one US Open in ’22 and I think she’s only made one quarterfinal at a Grand Slam since 2022 besides RG," Brett said.
"Even when Aryna Sabalenka's not at her best, she’s still good enough" - Jimmy Connors
In the same conversation on the Advantage Connors podcast, Jimmy Connors suggested that Aryna Sabalenka can get the job done even while not operating at 100 percent. Connors asked Brett if he agreed with the assessment, saying (at 10:43):
"Sabby’s [Aryna Sabalenka] got a big game. When she’s on, it’s amazing but I think now and tell me your thoughts on this, that even when she’s not at her best, she’s still good enough… is that fair to say?"
Brett chimed in:
"Yeah, I think she’s kind of learned from mistakes over the years and some people just keep butting their head against the wall doing the same thing. She doesn’t really choke on her serve anymore."
"And you’re right, her game is powerful. There’s a stat I think, after four, five rounds in the tournament, that the biggest forehand miles per hour was Sabby, even with the men. Like 90 miles an hour something per forehand," he added.
In the WTA weekly rankings, Aryna Sabalenka sits in second place behind Iga Swiatek with 8,716 points. In the remaining few months of the 2024 season, the Pole finds herself defending 2,600 points whereas Sabalenka only has 840 points to recollect.
Thus, the race to the Year-end World No. 1 finish between the two might see Aryna Sabalenka prevail.