Aryna Sabalenka’s path to the US Open title was far from straightforward, and tennis analyst Rennae Stubbs wasn’t shy about admitting her initial doubts. “I did not pick Sabalenka to win this tournament. She was not playing great coming into it,” Stubbs revealed during a recent podcast.

Watching Sabalenka in practice, the former coach of Serena Williams noted she was missing balls by 20 feet and sometimes even hitting the bottom of the net. “I spoke about it on air. I was watching her practices. She was not happy,” Stubbs said, emphasizing that confidence and rhythm are critical to Sabalenka’s game, which relies heavily on hitting winners.

Despite her inconsistencies earlier in the season, Sabalenka’s ability to perform under pressure was undeniable. “Pick against your own peril, because

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