A data analyst on Sabalenka: "At the US Open, she was hitting her forehand at a higher speed than the men"
Shane Liyanage, data analyst for the ATP and WTA Tours, has been working with the world No.1 for the past five years, helping her to progress in certain areas of the game using statistics as support.
For example, he has contributed to the changes made to her serve, an area where the Belarussian used to commit a lot of double faults.
For Tennis Majors, Liyanage spoke of the difference in hitting speed between men and women, which is not as great as you might imagine: "It's surprising, but on speed, there's not really a difference, especially if you take away the serve.
The effect of the stroke is greater for men than for women.
Aryna hit a faster forehand than the men at the US Open, for example. Men hit from more of an angle, they vary their height much more than women.
They use the width of the court much more than on the women's circuit."
