Why Aryna Sabalenka's forehand is faster than Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner & anyone on the men's tour: World No. 1's coach Anton Dubrov explains
Aryna Sabalenka's coach Anton Dubrov outlined multiple reasons why the Belarusian WTA player's forehand is faster than ATP players including Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Dubrov's reasoning majorly revolved around the difference in tours.
According to the numbers published by the US Open, Sabalenka's "average forehand speed" was 129 km/h. Alcaraz (127 km/h), Sinner (125 km/h), and Novak Djokovic (122 km/h) recorded lesser numbers than the Belarusian.
Sabalenka expressed surprise at the numbers after her fourth-round win over Elise Mertens at the New York Major, stating:
“I saw my stats on my forehand and I actually can’t believe it’s that fast... It felt kind of uncomfortable being at the top and even hitting harder than guys. That’s a really interesting stat.”
In an exclusive interview with CLAY, Sabalenka's coach Dubrov, who has been with her since 2020, broke down the details behind the forehand-speed stat. Dubrov clarified first that:
"There are several reasons. The first is that since men can hit harder, players on the other side of the net have less time to position themselves well and strike with power," Dubrov told CLAY.
He then added that men’s strategy often involves more lateral movement, which reduces the need to hit hard on every shot.
"Men have to run from side to side during a point, so for them, it’s riskier to constantly hit as hard because the opponent can use the weight of the ball to return it with the same speed… and even better angles. You see that less in the women’s tour."
The 29-year-old coach then highlighted how the best-of-five format impacts men's play styles, noting:
"You have to remember that men play best-of-five sets. It’s not smart to hit so hard all the time if you might be on court for four hours."
Finally, Dubrov explained why Sabalenka leans into her power. He emphasized that her powerful forehand is a key strength, especially since many players on the women’s tour find it difficult to counter shots with such high speed. This enables her to dictate play and take advantage when her opponents struggle.
Anton Dubrov explains how Aryna Sabalenka's coaching team attempts to harness her immense shot power
Further, in the same interview with CLAY, Anton Dubrov explained that Aryna Sabalenka's team strategically uses her power to her advantage. Dubrov shed light on a more strategic approach to shot-making beyond sheer strength alone.
“We work on finding the balance: yes, you can hit hard, but when and how should you hit hard? Do you really need to? You have to know the opponents well. For example, Jessica Pegula is quite good at using her opponent’s power. She can return flat shots when powerful shots come her way,” he explained.
Sabalenka is encouraged to sometimes hit at 75% power instead of going full throttle, especially when a lighter shot and greater angle could push her opponent off-court. This opens up the chance to use the open space more effectively in the following shot.
Aryna Sabalenka was recently defeated by Coco Gauff, the eventual champion, in the semifinals of the 2024 WTA Finals. The Belarusian, however, notched up her first year-end World No. 1 after an impressive showing in the latter half of the season.