Mary Joe Fernandez left impressed with Sabalenka correcting serve issues: "I don't think of anyone that came out of it or ever really got back to being really good"

Former player Mary Joe Fernandez was impressed with Aryna Sabalenka correcting her serving issues which were severe at one point in time.

Sabalenka struggled with her serve in 2022 with the Belarussian committing almost 20 doubles in several matches. She regularly hit double digits early on in the season with the second part of the season becoming a bit better. She finished the year with 428 committed double faults in 55 matches which is over about 7.78 per match.

Speakin in the Patrick McEnroe podcast, Fernandez said:

"It's super impressive. When I think back at all the players that had the yips on the women's side, I don't think of anyone that came out of it or ever really got back to being really good. Whether it was Gabriela Sabatini, Elena Dementieva, or Ana Ivanovic, they never quite got it back. You are always in the back of your mind thinking, 'Oh, when are the double faults going to show up'."

She added:

"Not only are her double faults less now, but now she's acing the women more. So she really did a 360, it was a complete turnaround for her. I was really happy to see it because I feel like she works really hard and she wants it so badly. I'm excited because I feel like now, we're going to have maybe a good rivalry with Rybakina, who also was very impressive, and maybe against Iga Swiatek."