“I feel you”: Aryna Sabalenka lends support to Coco Gauff through Wuhan serving woes

WUHAN, China—Aryna Sabalenka described a surreal atmosphere on court at the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open as rival Coco Gauff struggled with her serve throughout an otherwise high-quality semifinal clash.

“I was playing that match thinking, like, ‘Well, girl, I feel you,’” Sabalenka said clinching a 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 comeback to win a 16th straight match in Wuhan. “’I feel you like nobody else.’”

Gauff has been dealing with an unreliable serve since this spring, and racked up numerous double faults in early exits from the Cincinnati Open and US Open last month. Against Sabalenka on Saturday, she struck a brutal 21 double faults over three sets, most coming after the American had secured a 6-1, 4-2 lead over the woman she beat to win the 2023 US Open.

Sabalenka herself endured her own battle with serving yips back in 2022, even resorting to underarm serves in desperation before cleaning the shot up with the help of biomechanic coach Gavin MacMillan.

First it started as technical issue...Then it became mental issue. Then you just have to deal with both, which is really difficult and tough. You have to be really mentally strong enough to overcome this thing. Aryna Sabalenka on her past serving issues

“I know what she's going through,” said Sabalenka, who only hit two double faults in the two hour, 29-minute affair. “This is really difficult. This is really tough. But I know that if she'll be able to overcome this serve situation, she already one of the best players, but I'm pretty sure she's going to be one of the greatest players.”

The top seed was overmatched early on as Gauff, who has been in the midst of trying to solve her serve with new coach Matt Daly, stormed through the opening set. Sabalenka shook off losing a 4-1 lead in the third to break the former No. 2 for a sixth time and reach a third Wuhan final.

Somewhat appropriately, the match ended on a Gauff double fault.

“At the beginning, I couldn't do anything,” Sabalenka said. “I didn't feel any strokes. It felt like, Whatever. I kind of like accepted I already lost this match.

“I was like, ‘Okay, whatever. If she's going to give me chances, I'll try my best. If not, whatever, I'll fly back home, enjoy a little rest time and prepare for the Finals,’” she added with a laugh.

“At some point in the second set when she was keep breaking me, I was like, ‘Okay, I still have chances on her serve.’ I was just trying to put as much pressure on her as I can so she would go even crazier on her serve.”

A favorite with the Chinese crowd, Sabalenka conceded she is unlikely to get much support as she awaits one of Zheng Qinwen or Wang Xinyu in Sunday’s final.

“Lately, I don't know, life been challenging me with playing home-country players, starting from Cincinnati,” Sabalenka smiled. “I’m kind of ready for that.

“I know obviously they going to support either of them more than me. But I know that I still got some people here who support me. This tournament feels like playing at home. Being the third time in the finals, hopefully I'll get this beautiful trophy tomorrow.”

Asked to share her favorite variation of Chinese fried rice, Sabalenka couldn’t resist one last joke.

“You want to prepare something for my meal so I'm not going to be able to play tomorrow?” she said, laughing with the journalist. “Trying to predict my order tonight, like doing something? Okay, I'm not going to eat chicken!”