John McEnroe acknowledges it is crystal clear that Aryna Sabalenka has made a big improvement in her game over the last few years but still believes that prime Serena Williams would end on the winning side if they met right now.
After struggling for years to make a big breakthrough at the Grand Slam level, the 26-year-old has landed three Majors in the last 20 months – she won back-to-back Australian Open titles and also made it all the way at this year’s US Open after finishing as runner-up at Flushing Meadows in 2023.
At the start of this season, the Belarusian tennis star impressively defended her title at Melbourne Park without a dropped set. Now, she won her first US Open title with only one lost set during a two-week period in New York.
Since Sabalenka has been at least a finalist in each of the last four hard-court Slams, it led to some comparing her to Williams. There is no need to wonder why because the American tennis icon’s track record and dominance on hard courts are well-documented.
And speaking at a Eurosport event, McEnroe highlighted that the now three-time Major winner has the strength and quality that resembles the former 23-time Slam champion in some ways. But to say that she’d beat the American former world No. 1 is something he would not do.
“Sabalenka has improved her movement, but I don’t think that she is at the same level as Serena when she was at her best. Obviously, we are talking about two of the biggest hitters that have ever been in the women’s game, but I would take Serena to beat her still. I have a huge amount of respect for Sabalenka. She has improved her game and that is why she is finally winning majors and contending in every event she is in,” the 65-year-old American tennis legend said.
In the past Williams and Sabalenka played only once at the 2021 Australian Open and the American won that meeting in tight three sets 6-4 2-6 6-4.
McEnroe on Coco Gauff’s struggles and the Williams comparison
After beating Sabalenka in last year’s US Open final, Gauff became a Grand Slam champion at the age of 19. Shortly after in her post-match presser, the American underlined that she was hungry for more.
But a Major title No. 2 didn’t come for the 20-year-old this year, who was a semifinalist at the Australian Open and French Open before picking up back-to-back round-of-16 exits at Wimbledon and Flushing Meadows.
Overall, the last few months haven’t been the best for the American, who hasn’t made it past the last-16 in any of her last five events played and she is set to drop from No. 3 to No. 6 on Monday.
“She’s still having issues with her serve, she’s still having issues with her forehand. She seems to be more outwardly frustrated on the court and venting more. I guess that’s just the pressure of expectation. Because people are like: ‘Just follow in the footsteps of Serena Williams,'” McEnroe explained.
“You’re like: ‘Oh really? That will be easy.’ There is a lot being asked (of her). I noticed she’s been on a fair amount of commercials and stuff too. I don’t know exactly how much she’s done, but they’ve got to balance that with giving her time to work on her game and feel super confident again, which you can tell she’s not feeling right now.”
Sabalenka emulated a Williams feat, Gauff hopes to bounce back
At this past US Open, the 26-year-old Belarusian became the first player since Williams in 2018 and 2019 to reach back-to-back finals at Flushing Meadows. And after beating Jessica Pegula 7-5 7-5, she also joined the American tennis icon on the US Open winners list.
But before triumphing in New York this year, the current world No. 2 lost a final and two semifinals at the tournament.
“I remember all those tough losses in the past here. It’s going to sound easy but never give up on your dreams and just keep trying, keep working hard. If you’re really working hard and you’re sacrificing everything for a dream, you’re going to get it one day. I’m just super proud of myself. I never say that, but really guys, I’m super proud of myself, I’m proud of my team that no matter what, no matter which situation we were facing, this season and in the past, we were able to go through it and get all those beautiful trophies,” Sabalenka recalled following her win.
On the other side, Gauff didn’t hide that she was unhappy with how she played at Flushing Meadows but also vowed to keep working hard and try to get back on the right track as soon as possible.