‘Never Have Anything To Lose’ – Clijsters Draws Serena Williams Parallel As Aryna Sabalenka Concerns Mount

Aryna Sabalenka has always been a force of nature on the court. However, since the Miami Open, the World No. 1 hasn’t won a single title or advanced beyond the quarterfinals of any WTA 1000 or Grand Slam event. Discussing this recent dip in form on her “Love All” podcast, four-time Grand Slam champion Kim Clijsters shared her observation on what might be missing from the Belarusian’s game right now, while comparing it to Serena Williams’ situation when she was the World No. 1.

Kim Clijsters Recalls Serena Williams’ Advice While Breaking Down Aryna Sabalenka’s Form Ahead of US Open

During the latest podcast episode, alongside tennis broadcaster Blair Henley, Clijsters shared her takeaways from Sabalenka’s recent matches.

“I think what I always feel with Sabalenka is even when she’s not playing her best, it can take one shot, one rally that can switch it around really quickly,” Clijsters observed. “But for the last few weeks, I think she’s not been playing with enough structure in her game. I think that’s what’s lacking a little bit. It’s a lot of powerful hitting and trying to hit the ball harder if things aren’t going her way. Or take even more risks.”

Adding to this challenge is the natural pressure that comes with being the world’s number 1 WTA player. Clijsters recalled past observations from Williams, who faced the same issue during her long tenure as World No. 1. Because opponents expect to lose against her, they play without any stress.

“And I think Serena used to say it a lot, right?” Clijsters said. “When she was number one, winning all the Grand Slams and everything, players playing her never have anything to lose. So they play so freely, and they serve better than before. All of a sudden they’re returning really well.”

After her early exit at the 2014 Wimbledon, the 23-time Grand Slam champion had said, “If I’m not playing a great, great match, these girls, when they play me, they play as if they’re on the ATP Tour, and then they play other girls completely different. It’s never easy being in my shoes.”

Since winning the Brisbane International and the Sunshine Double in Indian Wells and Miami, Sabalenka reached the quarterfinals at the Madrid Open and the French Open but suffered an early exit in the Round of 32 at the Italian Open in Rome.

In grass courts, she had a semifinal appearance in Berlin, followed by a surprising Round of 16 exit at Wimbledon. Most recently, her Canadian Open campaign also ended in the Round of 16, with a defeat to Ekaterina Alexandrova. However, Clijsters pointed out that Sabalenka is not suffering embarrassing defeats against weak opponents.

“It’s not that she’s losing to players that are ranked outside of the top 100. They’re all players who are very good on their own.”

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Clijsters believes that Sabaleka can regain her dominance in New York. “I think she still has a really good chance of winning the US Open, and I think that’s where she’s trying to peak.” In the last two years, she secured back-to-back major titles at Flushing Meadows.

Before the last Grand Slam of the year, Sabalenka will play the Cincinnati Open, which begins on August 13.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.