Sabalenka reveals which aspect of her tennis has improved after her defeat at the Australian Open

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Aryna Sabalenka continues to make strong progress at the Miami Open 2025. The defeat in the Indian Wells final against Mirra Andreeva seems not to have affected her in the same way as when she relinquished the champion title at the Australian Open. After that loss to Madison Keys, the Belarusian stated that it was hard to accept and decided to work on an aspect of her tennis that is now proving crucial in Miami: her serve. It was evident in her round of 16 match against Danielle Collins (6-4, 6-4), the defending champion, where her serve was instrumental in securing the victory. She now awaits Qinwen Zheng in the quarterfinals. 

Happy after defeating Collins

"I am very happy to have won in straight sets and at the level I played today. She is a tough opponent, and we have had many tough and challenging matches in the past. So, I am very pleased to have overcome this match."

Improvement in her serve after the Australian Open

"I would say that I was not serving very well at the Australian Open, so after the Open, we worked a lot on my serve to regain the stroke, to return to the court with the serve. Now I am very satisfied with my serve, and I feel that I served very well against Danielle. At times, I was serving as hard as possible, but above all, I believe it was a very smart serving on my part. Yes, I am pleased to have restored my serve."

Grateful to the audience despite the silence on the central court

"It's okay. I think in the end, the crowd really cheered us on, and I think there was quite a bit of noise in the end, but I don't know what to say. I liked the atmosphere. At the beginning, maybe there weren't as many people. Perhaps people were a bit relaxed after Alexander Zverev's match and then returned to the stadium, I think around the middle of the first set. I think the atmosphere was great."

Differences between the Melbourne and Indian Wells defeats

"Losing in Australia was very painful, very tough. Indian Wells, I think it wasn't my day. My team and I know what happened there, with what I was dealing with. I didn't have much time to dwell on it or anything like that. I went back to training straight away the next day. I am here, in Miami, so I have already forgotten what happened there."

About the pressure of being the world number one

"I think I am where I am supposed to be, and I am super happy to see myself in this position because I have worked, I never say it, but I have worked very hard to get where I am now. It's not pressure for me. It is very nice to be in this position. Let's say that being an athlete is already a lot of pressure. I focus on myself, not on pressure moments. I think if you are willing to focus on yourself and focus on improving, there is no pressure. At the US Open, they have a sign that says: 'Pressure is a privilege.' I take it that way."

The positive aspects of living in Miami

"I love it. I love staying at home. As you said, it is very nice to do laundry. I can do it at any time. I don't have to wait for one day. And also, driving my car and, once again, going home, going to my favorite places, and being in this kind of not, like, cold environment, but warm and cozy. It's great, and I am happy. I'm glad to have a home here and have my base here to feel this atmosphere during the tournament," says a determined Sabalenka, with an improved serve, aiming to clinch her first title in Miami. 
 

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sabalenka desvela que aspecto de su tenis ha mejorado tras su derrota en el Open de Australia