Aryna Sabalenka makes mental strides as tennis spectator

After five rounds at the Miami Open, Aryna Sabalenka would be forgiven for unplugging from tennis during her off-hours. But the world No. 1 revealed new motivation for studying her fellow competitors after reaching her first final at the Hard Rock Stadium.

“I think whenever I watch tennis, I'm more looking into the mental side of the game,” Sabalenka said in her post-match press conference on Thursday.

Perhaps the studying has paid off: the three-time Grand Slam champion has looked remarkably clutch in Miami, culminating with a dominant 6-2, 6-2 semifinal performance against No. 6 seed Jasmine Paolini.

“I see some of the things and I'm curious, like, ‘Okay, how the player going to handle this pressure? Especially men's, like what they are going to do under this pressure?’” Sabalenka said.

In her quest to win a maiden Sunshine Swing title, she converted four of five break point opportunities against Paolini while saving all four faced on her own serve. Against Zheng Qinwen in the quarterfinals, Sabalenka improved to 6-0 against the reigning Olympic champion, winning five of the final six games from a break down in the second set.

“I think when I was young I think I never really watched tennis,” said Sabalenka.

“Maybe if I would be a little bit smarter when I was younger, maybe I would be a little bit better player, like, I would become a better player earlier.

“I'm actually enjoying, like, watching tennis lately,” she joked. “That's crazy. I'm getting old!”

Still just 26 years old, Sabalenka awaits the winner of the second semifinal between No. 4 seed Jessica Pegula and Filipina wild card Alexandra Eala.