"If she wants to play power, let's go": Serena toughs out Sabalenka

When it comes to strengths, the one Serena Williams most frequently deploys is firepower, a steady cascade of serves and groundstrokes often overwhelming her opponents. Yet sheer offense was only partially responsible for Williams’ 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 fourth-round win over Aryna Sabalenka at the Australian Open.

Make no mistake, Williams’ serve was appropriately effective on Sunday. In the first set, serving at 3-3, Williams faced two break points, one at 30-40, the second at ad out. The first was fought off with a wide ace, the second with a curling slice serve down the T. There were also plenty of deep, powerful placements, Williams hitting 30 winners.

But the distribution of power in this match was close enough. Sabalenka struck 24 winners and many more crackling groundstrokes. This was hardly news. For several years, the 22-year-old Belarussian has displayed an eye-popping level of velocity that conjures visions of forthcoming greatness. Just like Naomi Osaka, Sabalenka’s blistering serve, forehand and backhand were greatly inspired by the example set for so long by Serena.

“It was definitely a lot of power,” said Williams. “I think, if anything, it was definitely power, but I'm used to it in practice. I know how to get them. I was okay with it really. If she wants to play power, let's go.”

The stylistic connection between a rising star and her iconic role model made this first match between the two an intriguing generational struggle. Could Sabalenka grab the torch?

Not yet.

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The reason might surprise you: the 39-year-old Williams was the better mover. On many a point, Williams scrambled to retrieve a Sabalenka salvo.

The first most notable instance came in the first set, with Sabalenka serving at 4-5, 0-15. Over the course of a 12-ball rally, Williams ran down shots in each corner, eventually extracting a forehand error from Sabalenka to go up love-30. Two deuces followed, but eventually, Williams grabbed the set, closing out an eight-ball exchange with a deep forehand that triggered a Sabalenka error. Throughout the match, Williams’ excellent court coverage frequently compelled Sabalenka to often go for more than required.

“I've worked really hard on my movement,” said Williams, who said the Achilles tendon injury she has been bothered by since 2018 is no longer an issue. “Yeah, I like retrieving balls. I mean, obviously I like to be on the offense, but I can play defense really well, as well. I do get a lot of balls back when I need to.”

Williams’ movement also triggered a moment of concern. In the second set, she tumbled to the court. For a moment, she appeared to have rolled her right ankle, the same one she’d twisted badly in her shock 2019 Australian Open quarterfinal loss to Karolina Pliskova.

“My first thought was, not another ankle sprain in Australia," said Williams. "But I knew immediately that it wasn't. Then I was more embarrassed than anything. I was like, Oh, my goodness. I don't like falling. I don't think it's—I don't like falling. But I was fine. I mean, once I realized I didn't twist my ankle like at all, I was like, Okay, I'm good, let me just get up.”

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The combustible but tenacious Sabalenka made two notable comebacks. The first came when she rapidly took charge of the second set, breaking Williams in the opening game and, soon enough, running it out, 6-2. Even more gutsy came the way she rallied from 1-4 down in the third, winning three straight games. With Williams serving at 4-all, Sabalenka capped off a 12-ball rally with a forehand winner and a loud scream: “Come on!!!!”

That proved her last hurrah. Williams from there won eight of the next nine points, the last three courtesy of a Sabalenka double-fault and two forehand unforced errors.

It must surely be unsettling to invest in Sabalenka’s success. How much does she own those big shots? What causes her footwork to suddenly get so sloppy? Did anyone ever teach her how to take advantage of the opening she creates, smoothly navigate the transition area and settle herself for what could often be a routine volley? For all the passion she brings to competition, Sabalenka’s emotions often create a rollercoaster effect, when it might be more helpful to stay calm and let her racquet speak most loudly. This could well be a tricky calibration. How best to harness the firepower without dampening it?

Sabalenka was trying to reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal. Williams is now in her 54th. For now at least, the future will wait. As she has so often, Serena Williams is right where needs to be, tranquil and business-like.

“I like my job,” she said. “I like what I do. It’s pretty special I get to come out and still get to do it.”