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Aryna Sabalenka’s Big Comeback: How a Vacation and "Back to Basics" Plan Could Save Her Season
The Crash at Wimbledon
Imagine being the number one tennis player in the world. You’ve won three huge titles in just a few months. You were one set away from winning the Australian Open. You’re on fire.
Then… Wimbledon happens.
Aryna Sabalenka lost in the fourth round to Naomi Osaka in straight sets. It was her earliest Grand Slam exit in four years.
She told reporters:
“I want to get completely drunk, forget about tennis. And try to get better.”
That’s how frustrated she was.
The Great Reset: Mykonos & Mental Recharge
After Wimbledon, Sabalenka didn’t pick up a racket for a while. She went to Mykonos, Greece — just sun, sea, and zero tennis.
Why the break mattered:
- Her body hurt — the long season took a toll
- Her mind was fried — pressure, expectations, constant travel
- She needed perspective — to remember why she loves the game
She said:
“I suffered during the summer swing a lot… with my body, with mentally also a little bit. It was much needed. After Mykonos… I felt much better. I couldn’t wait to get back on court.”
Back to Basics: The "Boring" Practice That Wins Matches
When she returned to practice, she didn’t work on fancy tricks. No drop shots. No serve-and-volley. No crazy angles.
Instead, she did the simple stuff — over and over.
Her "Back to Basics" Routine:
- Long rallies — just hitting back and forth
- Cross-court drills — controlling the ball, not forcing it
- Rebuilding her foundation — aggressive baseline play, solid and repeatable
- Then… add variety — only after the base is rock-solid
She explained:
“It’s a routine. Lots of rallies, lots of basic work… just going back to really small variety. Don’t go too much into angles, dropshots, serve and volley. Just bring back the baseline game, make sure I’m really confident there. Then, on top of that, put some variety.”
Think of it like relearning to walk before you run.
The Numbers Don’t Lie: A Tale of Two Halves
| First Half (Hard Court) | Grass Season |
|---|---|
| 3 titles in 4 tournaments | 13 wins, 5 losses |
| Finalist at Australian Open | Zero finals |
| Dominant, confident | Frustrated, searching |
She set a high bar early — and the grass season didn’t meet it.
But she’s not panicking.
She said:
“With the benefit of hindsight… wasn’t that bad. But I was trying a couple things, things didn’t go the way that I expected… and I really hope it’s going to work out well on the hard court again.”
Why Toronto Matters: Ranking Points & Redemption
Sabalenka skipped this tournament last year. Now, she’s back at the National Bank Open in Toronto — a WTA 1000 event (one of the biggest outside Grand Slams).
What’s at stake:
- Big ranking points — defend her World No. 1 spot
- Stay ahead of Elena Rybakina — her closest rival in the rankings
- Prove the reset worked — on her favorite surface: hard court
First Test:
- vs. Moyuka Uchijima (Japan)
- Second round, Tuesday
- First real match since her "back to basics" overhaul
Summary
| Key Point | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Burnout was real | Even champs need mental & physical breaks |
| Simplicity wins | She stripped her game down to rebuild it stronger |
| Hard court = happy place | Her best results come on this surface |
| No. 1 is on the line | Toronto could decide the year-end race |
| Process > panic | She’s trusting the work, not the worry |
FAQ
Why did Sabalenka say she wanted to "get completely drunk"?
She was venting frustration after a shocking early loss at Wimbledon. It was raw honesty — not a literal plan — showing how mentally drained she felt.
What does "back to basics" mean in tennis?
It means practicing fundamental shots (like cross-court forehands/backhands) over and over until they’re automatic. No trick shots. Just solid, repeatable tennis.
Why is the National Bank Open so important?
It’s a WTA 1000 tournament — worth 1,000 ranking points to the winner. Skipping it last year means she has zero points to defend, so a deep run boosts her ranking big time.
Who is Elena Rybakina and why does she matter?
Rybakina is World No. 2 and a Wimbledon champion. She’s chasing Sabalenka for the No. 1 spot. Every tournament matters in this tight race.
Can she really turn it around that fast?
Yes. She’s done it before. Her game thrives on hard courts, and a month of focused, simple practice can sharpen timing and confidence quickly — especially for a player of her caliber.
Final Thought:
Sometimes the best way forward isn’t adding more — it’s stripping away the noise and remembering what made you great in the first place. Sabalenka’s doing exactly that.
Toronto is her proof-of-concept.
