Aryna Sabalenka is crafting a legacy that feels both fresh and familiar. Her remarkable 2024 season, marked by two hardcourt Grand Slam titles and the year-end World No. 1 ranking, echoes the dominance of a certain past champion. The Belarusian’s raw power and aggressive style have drawn comparisons to none other than Serena Williams, whom she once noted inspired her. “I always wanted to dominate the tour like Serena did,” Sabalenka said ahead of the WTA Finals last year. And, Looks like Serena Williams’ ex-coach Rick Macci might see this manifesting for her!

Sabalenka is on fire at the Miami Open, storming into her first-ever final at the venue with a dominant 6-2, 6-2 win over Italy’s Jasmine Paolini. The world No. 1 has been unstoppable, not dropping a single set all tournament. Her powerful serves and punishing groundstrokes left Paolini with no answers in the semifinal clash. This victory also marks Sabalenka’s second consecutive final appearance this season, following her runner-up finish at Indian Wells earlier this month.

Rick Macci, who mentored Serena back in 1991, took to his X account after Sabalenka’s victory and wrote, “When locked loaded and ready to launch Sabalenka off both wings with her elite on the rise timing is the best I have seen since Serena. She can snatch the racquet out of your hand with her 90 mile an hour howitzers. Her toughest opponent right now is in the Mirror. @SabalenkaA.” Quite a high praise, right?

Serena Williams and Aryna Sabalenka, both powerhouses in tennis, showcase distinct serving styles. Serena’s legendary serve blended speed (up to 128.6 mph) and precision, cementing her as one of the greatest servers ever. Sabalenka emphasizes raw power over finesse, reflecting her aggressive playing style.

This season, Sabalenka has mirrored Serena’s dominance by becoming only the fourth WTA World No. 1 to reach the semifinals of the Australian Open, Indian Wells, and Miami Open in the same year. The Belarusian previously achieved a Serena-like feat at the 2024 US Open as well! After her major breakthrough at last year’s Australian Open, the 26-year-old retained the Melbourne title in January before adding the U.S. Open crown to her trophy cabinet in September, leapfrogging Iga Swiatek in the rankings last year.

Sabalenka’s New York run meant she had reached at least the semifinals at nine of her last 12 Grand Slams — reminiscent of Serena’s 10 semifinal appearances between 2014 and 2017 when the American landed six of her 23 major titles.

Now heading into her maiden Miami Open finals, the Tigress is ready to roar again. Will she clinch her second title of the season after the Brisbane International? Only time will tell. In the meantime, she’s got a young and precious supporter who approves of her advancing to the next round!

Aryna Sabalenka earns the approval of her goddaughter ahead of the first Miami Open final!

After defeating Jasmine Paolini, Aryna Sabalenka had a heartwarming moment, as she was joined by her adorable goddaughter. When asked about the little girl in her conversation with the Tennis Channel, Sabalenka smiled and introduced her as “the magnificent smile in yellow.” The playful exchange continued as the host asked the child about Sabalenka’s performance, prompting laughter when the World No. 1 answered on her behalf: “She said yes. If she said yes, then yeah, I played well.” The Australian Open champion couldn’t contain her amusement as her goddaughter made funny faces at the camera, adding a delightful touch to the interview.

Reflecting on her match against Paolini, Sabalenka praised her own performance, saying, “I think I played an incredible match and I’m super happy that I was able to focus on my serve. It was great performance from me, and it’s always tough battles against Jasmine but today I just brought another level.” She expressed hope to maintain this level in the finals against Jessica Pegula.

Sabalenka now joins an elite group of players who have reached both the Indian Wells and Miami Open finals in the same season, including legends like Kim Clijsters and Maria Sharapova. However, her job isn’t done yet—she faces Pegula in what promises to be a thrilling rematch of their 2024 US Open final. Sabalenka triumphed in that encounter, but with Pegula in stellar form, will she be able to take down the American once again? Share your thoughts in the comments below!