Aryna Sabalenka is on an unstoppable roll this season! With four titles already under her belt, including two Grand Slam victories, the Belarusian star is inching ever closer to dethroning Iga Swiatek as the World No. 1. Her fierce talent and competitive drive have undoubtedly made her a force to be reckoned with on the court. But lately, it’s not just her powerful forehand and relentless energy that are turning heads—it’s her generosity and character off the court that are stealing the spotlight. Serena Williams’ former coach, Rennae Stubbs, took notice of Sabalenka’s admirable qualities, highlighting that there’s more to this star player than meets the eye.

The Belarusian star played her latest campaign at the Wuhan Open and continued her winning streak at the venue, thereby clinching the title for the third time. But besides her skills, the tournament also witnessed her regard for her opponents, despite defeating them in fashion, and a similar scene emerged during Sabalenka’s semi-final clash against Coco Gauff. Sabalenka defeated Gauff in a thrilling 3-setter match by 1-6, 6-4, 6-4. But for Gauff, the challenge was immense, as she witnessed some difficult times during the match. 

The 20-year-old fired 4 aces, but these were overshadowed by her 21 double faults against a strong opponent. While this visibly frustrated the player, Sabalenka tried to ease the pressure off her shoulder after the match, and this gesture seems to have wooed Stubbs. The 53-year-old talked to Caitlin Whoriskey for the October 15th episode of The Rennae Stubbs Podcast and praised Sabalenka for her actions.

Speaking in the interview, Stubbs recalled Aryna Sabalenka’s statement for Coco Gauff during the post-match interview. “She was like, ‘You know, I have been there; I know what it feels like. And once she gets that out of her system or figures out a way to get the serve in the court, she is going to be the best player.’ Continuing further, she highlighted the impact of these statements on a young player like Gauff. 

“I mean that was really… If I am Coco I would have been like ‘Oh Damn! If this player who is arguably best player in the world right now thinks that about me and has been at the same place as me, has been in that same place, thinks that way.’ That was a really great moment in sports for being a generous opponent,” Stubbs added. Remember, Sabalenks tried to cheer up the young American player after the match and said, “I was playing that match thinking, Girl I feel u like nobody else. I know what she’s going through.” She also praised her mettle and advised her to focus on her service skills, which have been a massive concern for Gauff lately. 

For those who don’t know, Gauff has shot 382 double faults in her 63 matches this season so far, taking her average to more than six. Her struggles were highlighted by Stubbs previously as well, who took to her X after the match and wrote, “If Coco can fix this 2nd serve technique, she isn’t going to lose much playing like this.” But despite the challenges, Gauff is determined to keep thriving for excellence on courts.

‘Working on new things’ When Coco Gauff revealed her struggles with serve

When Coco Gauff parted ways with her former coach Brad Gilbert and joined forces with Matt Daly, she revealed that her focus was to improve her service game. However, the Wuhan Open gave a completely different picture. While she did not hit a single double fault in her first and third matches, there were just 4 double faults in her second match, which was also below her average. However, her match against Sabalenka took her total double faults to 25 in the tournament. But, Gauff is poised and determined. 

The star player opened up about her serving menaces and revealed the challenges. “I am working on new things, a slightly different movement, and it is logical that I may encounter problems. I was very surprised at how well my serve worked in Beijing.” Continuing further, she revealed that she reached Wuhan somewhat tired, but tried to depict a positive outlook. “I took many positive things from coming close to beating one of the best in the world despite my poor serving performance handicap. I think I just need time and to keep working,” Gauff added. 

As the season progresses, it would be interesting to see if Gauff can overcome her struggles and return to form soon. Besides, it would also be interesting to see if more such gestures take place from Aryna Sabalenka’s side, thereby attracting the eyeballs of the masses.