Dubai: In modern day tennis it is difficult to replicate the success enjoyed by Steffi Graf or Serena Williams with very little to choose from the top 100 players, but Aryna Sabalenka wants to dominate like the greats and exhibited her credentials with a pulsating win over defending champion Jelena Ostapenko in a super fast-paced encounter at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Wednesday.

The Belarusian was shell-shocked by the fast shots of Ostapenko in the first set, which she lost 6-2. The Australian Open champion, in a stunning reversal, shifted gears with an equally aggressive counter-attack and changed things around for good, winning 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 in a fist-pumping clash.

“To be honest, she played unbelievable tennis in the first set. I wasn’t really ready for that fast tennis. She was just getting everything in. I don’t know, magically, I turned the match around. Started playing even more aggressive, step in a little bit, put her under pressure, especially on her serve. It worked well and just super happy with this win,” said Sabalenka.

Talking about the frequent changes at the top of the ranking and not one player stamping their authority on the WTA Tour, Sabalenka, who produced a tenacious performance backed by the self-confidence that she has gained with the first Grand Slam title in Australia, sees plenty of positivity in that as it is due to the high-level of standards on the tour.

“Tennis improved a lot. Everyone has started working with their own fitness coach, trainer, tennis coach, hitting partner. Right now there’s never easy matches, not much of a difference between somewhere far in the hundred or top 20,” said Sabalenka.

Players' consistency 

“Everyone can beat everyone, that’s why it’s a little bit tougher right now. That’s why top players struggling a lot with that. You have to bring out your best tennis from the beginning of the tournament, so you’re spending a lot of energy, before the final. Then at the end, it’s tougher to play. It’s positive thing. I wish we would dominate like Steff Graf and Serena Williams used to.”

Even Iga Swiatek felt that the players on the WTA Tour are consistent. “Right now, after a couple of years of hearing that we’re not consistent, we are actually consistent. There are many top players who are playing great on most of the tournaments,” said the world No 1.

The 24-year-old genial Belarusian, who had first set her sights on world No 1, is on course for a clash with top-ranked Swiatek after booking her place in the quarter-finals in Dubai, extending her winning run to 13 matches. However, Sabalenka hopes to focus on the current match or tournament and not look far ahead.

“When you start thinking about these things, it never works. I’m trying to focus on myself. I’m pretty sure that Iga was doing the same thing last year, focusing on her game. That’s why she did really well. I’ll do my best to win as many matches in a row. But you just have to work really hard and stay focused. I’m doing my best,” said Sabalenka.

Huge positive

Sabalenka, who had modified her serve with the help of biomechanics trainer, was livid with her serve after making two double-faults on Tuesday. But on Wednesday, there was a huge positive after slashing it down by 50 per cent.

“Still improving, so it’s better than yesterday. No, I’m not livid,” said Sabalenka, with a huge smile writ on her face after overcoming a tough challenge. “Today, I was trying to mix it up a little bit. Wasn’t really going for flat serves. Yeah, it’s really helped me to stay in the game.”

Probably another reason for the broad smile could be from the fact that her rival, Ostapenko, sent down seven double faults, which was one of the reasons for her meltdown in the second and third sets.