Updated 2nd September 2024.
Aryna Sabalenka has been consistently among the top 3 in the world for a few years. But what is Aryna Sabalenka’s racquet?
Aryna Sabalenka’s racquet
Figuring out pro-player racquets is quite difficult unless you buy them somewhere or a stringer or customizer has worked on the players’ racquets and is willing to share. In Sabalenka’s case, I don’t know the specs or the tension, so if you have information about Sabalenka’s racquet, please comment below.
Sabalenka endorses the Wilson Blade 98 V9 18/20 but uses a Wilson Blade pro stock (thanks to Bogdan for correcting me), which means that it’s likely an older version of the Blade painted to look like the latest one. It’s challenging to know which one, but there are pictures of her using the Blade 2013 many years back so it could be that one.
Thanks to Tan Tennis, a fellow racquet reviewer, for Sabalenka’s racquet specs:
Strung weight: 324 grams
Balance: 32.7 cm
Swing weight: 326
She strings her racquets with Luxilon Alu Power mains and Luxilon Ace cross.
You can check out Sabalenka’s current gear page at Tennis Warehouse, Tennis Warehouse Europe or Tennis Only (AUS).
Or check out the Blade Pro and other Wilson Pro Labs racquets at Wilson.com (any purchase through my links will send a small commission to Tennisnerd at no cost to you).
Biography and Career
Aryna Sabalenka was born in Minsk, Belarus on May 5th, 1998. Her getting into tennis was just by chance and she started training at the National Tennis Academy in Minsk back in 2014.
The Belarusian was competing on the U14 and U16 Tennis Europe tours in her younger years and began playing on the ITF Women’s Circuit in 2012 (at a $25k event in Minsk). At the end of 2015 she won her first two titles in Antalya and together with the $25k title she claimed in the last week of the year, she got into the top 300 of the WTA rankings at the begining of 2016.
2018 became the breakthrough season for Sabalenka, when she claimed 46 main draw wins. After winning three WTA titles in 2019 her career just went from good to fantastic. Her great start to 2023 saw her win her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.
Notable Stats
Aryna Sabalenka is currently ranked no 2 in the world and her career high is no 1 (in 2023).
She has won two Grand Slam singles titles (AU Open 2023 & 2024), and won 21 WTA titles in total, 15 in singles and six in doubles.
Playing Style
The style of play is known for being quite aggressive and she is often commanding play from the baseline. Sabalenka has a powerful serve even though she have had some issues with her second serve. We can often see her getting a high numbers of winners and unforced errors.
It should also be mentioned, she is an excellent doubles player with good volley control, and had a great partnership with Elise Mertens.
Coaching Team
Sabalenka had various coaching setups through the years, including Khalil Ibrahimov, Magnus Norman and Dieter Kindlmann.
As of this year, her coaching team includes Anton Dubrov (her former hitting partner), fitness trainer Jason Stacy and Andrei Vasilevski.
Where to follow Sabalenka?
Fans can follow Aryna Sabalenka on the official Instagram account, on Facebook or her X.com account with 142K followers.
Fun Facts
- She currently has sponsorships with Nike (wear) and Wilson (racquets)
- Aryna has a tiger tattoo on her left arm, which she has used to refer to herself.
- She has a sweet tooth and also enjoys pancakes, dogs and reading.
4 comments
Aryna’s team is using Data analytics from Data Driven Sports Analytics, it’s been the big driver in her improvement, particularly on clay.
Interesting read! What would the different effect outcome be using a 16×19 string pattern versus a 18×20 as Sabalenka uses?
Hi Miguel, usually 16/19 has a higher launch angle and a bit of an easier sweet spot.
18/20 usually more control at contact but more need to self generate with good technique, the 18/20 usually, but not always, has a higher swingweight. More strings for a start.
Hard to say, because Wilson QC specs have a reputation for being absolutely all over the place. Maybe you get 305g, maybe 290, maybe 320. Maybe 310sw, maybe 340.
It annoys me, it’s why I stopped using Wilson frames.
@James, data analysis is fantastic, assuming that players have defined patterns of play or responses especially bat critical moments. Right up to the moment when the top players figure out that you are programmed to follow the data and they just do either the total opposite or behave in a random fashion.
Data is incredibly useful as long as when u get figured out, you have an adaptable game that can go toe to toe Vs any opponent and you understand your own data strong points and can still play your own A game to win, rather then be rumbled for your data driven strategy. I read some discussion from ‘the big 3’, individually about this.
She for sure has enough game to mix it, and if data takes her to mix it with the top then winning can be a momentum driven habit.
And she smiles, has personality…..nice to see.
I’m still going for Swiatek though. Lol
Since Djokovic was called for ‘hindrance’ when he made sounds after the ball crossed over to the opponent’s side of the net, why don’t umpires call Sabalenka for ‘hindrance’? She keeps shrieking long after the ball crossed over to her opponent’s side during serves and groundstrokes.