Tennis

Aryna Sabalenka's relentless pursuit of perfection has propelled her to the pinnacle of women's tennis. Her devastating forehand, honed by biomechanic coach Gavin MacMillan, has become her signature weapon, surpassing the power of male tennis stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.Sabalenka's transformation began in 2022 when she hired MacMillan to address her chronic serving yips. The results were immediate, as she reached the US Open semifinals and won the Australian Open the following year.MacMillan's focus extended beyond Sabalenka's serve, meticulously refining her entire ground game. He identified that she was rushing her forehand, preventing her from generating maximum power and control. By teaching her to wait for the right moment and execute a proper rotation, MacMillan unlocked a new level of offense.Sabalenka's improved forehand has made her a consistent threat to the No. 1 ranking. She credits MacMillan's biomechanical approach for giving her the confidence to execute shots under pressure."Knowing the tennis part from a biomechanic side, it definitely gives you so much confidence because you know how things work," Sabalenka said. "You tried it on match, you know it's works."MacMillan believes that technical proficiency is paramount in tennis, challenging the over-reliance on sports psychology. He argues that players must possess the skills to execute shots before they can develop mental toughness."Tennis is a mental sport, but your mind knows whether you can execute something right or when you can't," MacMillan said. "If you don't have the skills to execute shots, it doesn't matter what your strategy is."Sabalenka's success is a testament to the power of technical refinement. By embracing MacMillan's biomechanical approach, she has transformed herself into the most dynamic and explosive ball-striker in women's tennis.

Carlos Alcaraz, the world's No. 3 seed, has continued his impressive return to form at Roland Garros, defeating Sebastian Korda in straight sets to advance to the second week of the tournament.Alcaraz, who has been hampered by a persistent right forearm injury this season, has shown no signs of discomfort in Paris, playing his best tennis when it matters most. Against Korda, the Spaniard hit through any lingering doubts, showcasing his trademark power and precision.The match started slowly, with both players struggling to find their rhythm. However, Alcaraz gradually gained the upper hand, breaking Korda's serve in the sixth game to take the first set 6-4.Korda fought back in the second set, leveling the score at 3-3. But Alcaraz's forehand, which has been the most affected by his injury, came to the fore in the tiebreaker, helping him secure a 7-6 (5) victory.The third set was a more straightforward affair, with Alcaraz breaking Korda's serve early on and holding his own serve comfortably. He eventually sealed the match with a volley into the open court, winning 6-3.Alcaraz's victory sets up a potential quarterfinal clash with Italian rival Jannik Sinner, who is also in the same half of the draw. However, Alcaraz must first face the winner of the rain-delayed match between American Ben Shelton and Canada's Félix Auger-Aliassime.Alcaraz has a 1-0 record against Shelton but trails Auger-Aliassime 2-3 in their head-to-head. However, the Spaniard has won their last two matches, including a victory on clay at the Madrid Open earlier this year.