Mary Joe Fernandez believes Sabalenka could open Grand Slam floodgates: "No reason she can't win more"

Former world number four Mary Joe Fernandez believes that Aryna Sabalenka could win more grand slams this year after finally getting her first in Melbourne.

Sabalenka was always considered good enough to win a grand slam but she never quite got it done. She's come close a few times in recent years reaching the semi-final a couple of times but she finally made it to a final earlier this year in Melbourne. It was a winning effort as she finally won her first and former player Fernandez thinks it can actually lead to more quickly:

"If she (Aryna Sabalenka) could get through and win this Australian Open, I feel like she's now going to win a lot more. The doors have now opened for her, the stress is gone, the pressure she used to put on herself. With her kind of game, the power she has, she's not bad at the net, and now with her serve under control, there's no reason why she can't win more Grand Slams."

Read also

Elena Rybakina wins superb R1 clash with Andreescu in Dubai

Speaking further on the Patrick McEnroe podcast, Fernandez said:

"Here she is with a new attitude, much more positive. To me, it was incredible, she only lost that one set in the final. The emotions, the way that she now composes herself and doesn’t get too ahead of herself when things are going well or too down when things aren't going well, it was really impressive."

Read also

McEnroe on what sets Federer apart from Connors and Sampras: "I don't think I've ever met anyone that just loved to go out there"