Aryna Sabalenka prepares for clay court season after Miami Open win

Sabalenka looks ahead to Stuttgart, Madrid, Rome, and Paris with renewed confidence after her first hard court title of 2025.

Aryna Sabalenka holds the Butch Buchholz Trophy after defeating Jessica Pegula of the United States in the women's singles final of the Miami Open Presented by Itau at Hard Rock Stadium on March 29, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Florida. Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Aryna Sabalenka is gearing up for the clay court season with confidence after claiming her first hard court title of the year at the 2025 Miami Open. The Belarusian tennis star, currently ranked world No. 1, is setting her sights on upcoming tournaments in Stuttgart, Madrid, Rome, and Paris, determined to continue her winning form.

"I will start in Stuttgart, then Madrid, Rome, and Paris. I love playing on clay. Everyone questions my game on clay, but I know I can do well," Sabalenka said, as quoted from the official WTA website.

Fresh off her triumph in Miami, where she defeated American Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 in the final, Sabalenka is shifting her focus to adapting her game for clay surfaces. Despite reaching the finals in Madrid and Rome last year, she has yet to secure a major clay court title. However, she remains optimistic about her chances in 2025.

Sabalenka’s approach to the clay season

The 26-year-old revealed that her training will prioritize endurance and fitness to prepare for the physically demanding rallies often seen on clay courts.

"I think we will focus more on fitness, to make sure that I can play the longest rallies during the match. I am excited and I really hope I can perform well," she added.

Sabalenka’s aggressive baseline game has brought her significant success on hard courts, but she acknowledges the need for adjustments when transitioning to clay. Slower court speeds and higher bounce often favor players with strong defensive skills and patience in long rallies.

Determined to make her mark on clay

Despite her past struggles on the surface, Sabalenka remains hopeful about breaking through and capturing her first major clay title.

"I hope I can say, 'Yes, yes, I'm going to win. And it's going to happen.' I don't know, but I can definitely say that I'm going to give my best shot there. I'm going to fight for every point and try to win those beautiful trophies," she stated.

Her strong performance in Miami has not only given her confidence but also solidified her position at the top of the WTA rankings. With over 3,000 points separating her from second-ranked Iga Swiatek, Sabalenka has created a comfortable lead ahead of the European clay season.

"Honestly, I didn't really think about it. But it's a good points difference. I'm going to keep focusing on myself, improving, and making sure I play my best game every time," she said.

A dominant force on hard courts

Since making her WTA Tour debut in 2017, Sabalenka has emerged as one of the most dominant players on hard courts. With 17 hard court titles to her name—five more than Swiatek—she has consistently proven her ability on the faster surfaces.

"Wow, it's crazy. But if you look at the clay court stats, I'm way behind Iga. That's impressive to see. It means a lot because I work hard, and to see these results, it's amazing," she remarked.

While her hard court achievements are impressive, Sabalenka is eager to translate her success to clay. With key tournaments on the horizon, she has a golden opportunity to prove that she can be just as formidable on the slower surface.

As she prepares for Stuttgart, Madrid, Rome, and ultimately Roland Garros, all eyes will be on Sabalenka to see if she can finally conquer the clay court challenge and add another major trophy to her collection.