Aryna Sabalenka is showing renewed rhythm on the WTA tour, and the world No. 1 says a minor racquet tweak has played a role in her recent success. After a tough loss in the Australian Open final in January, Sabalenka responded by winning the Indian Wells title and advancing to the Miami Open quarterfinals without dropping a set.
Sabalenka explained that she made a subtle change to her racquet setup before the Sunshine Double stretch that includes Indian Wells and Miami. Speaking after her straight‑sets win over No. 23 seed Zheng Qinwen in Miami, she said the adjustment helped her feel more confident and comfortable on key shots, giving her greater control during matches.
The Belarusian star acknowledged that small improvements can make a big difference and said she was glad she made the change before the start of this swing. Since then, Sabalenka has dropped only one set across both tournaments, illustrating how the modifications have supported her high level of play.
Sabalenka endured several heartbreaking defeats in major finals over the past two seasons, including losses to Elena Rybakina at the 2026 Australian Open and the 2025 WTA Finals. She took some time off in February to regroup mentally and work with her team, and the racquet change was part of that process.
Her focus now is on maintaining momentum as she prepares for her next challenge at the Miami Open quarterfinals, where she will face Hailey Baptiste, who is aiming for her first WTA 1000 semifinal.
