Dubrov: Sabalenka’s job far from over

One hurdle – second seed Coco Gauff – remains between Sabalenka and her maiden Paris crown, which would take her three steps of the way to the career Grand Slam following back-to-back Australian Opens in 2023-24 and last year’s US Open.

Managing energy levels on the eve of a major title match is a team effort, one that coach Anton Dubrov and physical trainer Jason Stacy are now adept at having prepared her for five before.

“I think for us it was a great match, big win, but as we discussed also after the match, the job is not done,” Dubrov said. “This kind of success of the match, we just leave it for after the tournament, we’re gonna discuss and see what was great.

“I think our focus was even today on the practice, so what we have to do next. What is about next opponent? How do you feel like what we can do and all this stuff, but about the previous match, about the last match, that was just kind of a short briefing. Okay, you did great this part, this part, this wasn't great, and that's it, and then move on.”

Dubrov said there would be time to assess the tournament and the clay-court season from a big-picture perspective at some point following Saturday’s final before Wimbledon rolls around.

“Maybe we can talk more about the match against Iga,” he said. “Because might be this was one of the best matches she played on the clay from Aryna, so yes, but it doesn't mean that the job is done. We're still in the tournament. It's not finished. For me it's like half the way.”

All five of Sabalenka’s Grand Slam finals have been on hard courts before this fortnight.

Now she's entered uncharted territory after just her fifth win from 13 meetings with great rival Swiatek.

One of those two major final defeats came against her next opponent at Flushing Meadows two years ago when she faded badly from a set up against Gauff.

Dubrov is wary of reading too much into that result given both players have evolved substantially since and due to it being on a different surface.

“I would say... against any opponent, it's like one, two months can change everything,” he said.

“I remember we played (against) Iga, like, two or three years ago in Doha, and the way she starts playing in Doha, I think it was 2022, and she started to play much more aggressive, and we didn't expect this one.

“We looked at her match when we played against her in the Finals, Guadalajara (in 2023 and she) was a completely different player. We didn't expect. So I think Aryna lost because our preparation was terrible. She didn't expect this one.

“For me to look at what happened two years ago it's useless, because we play against Coco after this a few times, and you still have to focus on yourself more. Then have a look at a few matches that Coco played, like, this week, and that's it, because it's going to be a fresh, fresh start.”

The team has built a strong foundation not just around Sabalenka’s playing style but her personality traits.

Those TikTok dances were a necessary part of the balance, a break from all things serious, even if there was occasionally some pushback from the team on their level of involvement on camera.

Their charge’s energy is as bright and bubbly off court as in practice and on court and Stacy said even when her frustrations boiled to the surface it was more a matter of managing them than stifling them completely.

“On our team especially, we have a very simple saying: ‘Don't fight it, don't feed it,’” Stacy said. “We don't want to fight this, because the stress, anxiety, the pressure, the mistakes, all those things are going to be there, so you can't pretend it's not going to be a thing, but you don't want to feed it either and give it too much energy or power…

“Accept the way it is, understand what you have control over, and just focus in on that, and that's where Anton really comes into play with the tactics and strategies for each day.”