Aryna Sabalenka's extraordinary 2024 season, marked by her historic wins at the Australian Open and US Open, solidifies her legacy in tennis, showcasing unparalleled dominance and resilience amidst the sport's elite.
Aryna Sabalenka's impressive 2024 season has cemented her legacy in the annals of tennis. The Belarusian's triumph at both the Australian Open and the US Open has elevated her already remarkable career to new heights. In a sport that emphasizes consistency and adaptability, her success on hard courts is one of the most difficult achievements to attain in recent history. What makes this feat even more noteworthy is not just her superiority but the uncommon nature of achieving such a double in today's game.
This year, Sabalenka's ascent to the top has been truly remarkable. On her way to securing both major titles, she conceded only one set—an impressive testament to her dominating presence. That lone defeat occurred in the third round of the US Open against Ekaterina Alexandrova, a minor setback that she swiftly overcame, rallying to win 2-6, 6-1, 6-2. This victory exemplified not just her resilience, but also her exceptional skill, showcasing her capacity to adjust and excel when faced with pressure.
Her triumph places her among the most esteemed players in the history of tennis. Since the transition of the Australian Open and US Open to hard courts—1988 and 1978 respectively—only a limited number of players have successfully captured both titles within the same year. Indeed, Sabalenka has now become the fifth woman in the last 27 years to accomplish this extraordinary feat, joining the elite company of Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Martina Hingis, and Angelique Kerber. Graf and Seles secured their victories in consecutive years, while Hingis reached this milestone as a remarkable 16-year-old in 1997, a statistic that continues to represent tennis excellence.
The uniqueness of this accomplishment is highlighted by the fact that Serena Williams—often considered the greatest female player in the history of the Open Era—never succeeded in winning both hard-court majors in a single year, even with her exceptional dominance. Williams' illustrious career includes seven Australian Open titles and six US Open championships, but the one milestone that remained out of her reach is now within Sabalenka's grasp. This frames Sabalenka's achievement not merely as an extraordinary milestone, but as a declaration of her emergence at the forefront of women's tennis.
Adding to the significance of Sabalenka's 2024 season is her near miss in 2023 when she almost achieved the same double. Following her triumph at the Australian Open, Sabalenka advanced to the US Open final, where she faced off against Coco Gauff but ultimately fell short in a closely contested three-set match. This near defeat heightened expectations for her 2024 season, and her success this time stands as a testament to her development, resilience, and maturity on the court.
Aryna Sabalenka's remarkable performance on hard courts in 2024 has elevated her to the ranks of tennis legends. Accomplishing the rare feat of winning both the Australian Open and the US Open in the same season is something that occurs infrequently in modern tennis. Sabalenka's name will undoubtedly be forever linked to this outstanding achievement. This year, her extraordinary displays have established a new standard of excellence that has captured the attention of tennis fans and analysts alike, and the entire tennis community will be eagerly watching as she seeks to build upon this phenomenal success.
