Aryna Sabalenka’s third-round exit from the China Open last weekend marked another disappointing result in what has been a strange old season for the Belarusian.
For most players in professional tennis, completing the Sunshine Double by winning back-to-back titles in Indian Wells and Miami, as well as reaching two Grand Slam finals, would be considered a very successful year. But for Sabalenka, her 2026 campaign could be labelled unsatisfactory.
The former world number one has suffered several shocking defeats in the early stages of big tournaments, which ultimately resulted in Elena Rybakina leapfrogging her to take the top spot in the WTA rankings.
Jimmy Connors’ advice for Aryna Sabalenka amid tough season
Speaking about Sabalenka in an episode of his podcast, Advantage Connors, tennis legend Jimmy Connors said: “You know, we’ve talked about her a lot, you know, and I like her game. She flat-out thumps the ball.
“But when you have other things on your mind, and I’ve watched her play when she wins, and I’ve watched her play when she loses. You know, sometimes that going for the line becomes a three or four inches to the wrong side. And you can’t explain why that happens, but outside influences are a bad influence.
How would you rate Coco Gauff’s Grand Slam season?
“Distractions. That’s the right word. So even when you practice and you’re working on your game, and you’re trying to improve, and trying to say that, I can win this tournament, whatever. That distraction sometimes creeps in, and sometimes that’s hard to fight against.
“She’s gonna have to regroup. I like her. It’s just not her. She’s gonna have to get back into it and realize what makes everything else possible in her life, you know, around tennis.
“That’s the key, because, you know, if you’re not winning, they ain’t paying!”
Aryna Sabalenka’s draw at the 2026 Wuhan Open
Sabalenka will now have a chance to finish the 2026 WTA 1000 series off strong at the Wuhan Open, where she has been handed a tough draw. Sabalenka is on a third-round collision course with Elise Mertens, who has impressed so far during the Asian swing.
In the quarterfinals, Sabalenka is projected to face Iga Swiatek, who is seeded seventh at the final WTA 1000 event of the season. Like Sabalenka, the Pole has also endured a topsy-turvy year on the tour, resulting in her falling down the rankings. Swiatek will be looking to go far in Wuhan to clinch a spot in the WTA Finals.
Potential semifinal opponents at the Wuhan Open for Sabalenka come in the form of Mirra Andreeva and Marta Kostyuk. The highest seed on the other half of the draw is Jessica Pegula, whom she could meet in the final.
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