Post the retirement of Ashleigh Barty, many believed that Belarusian tennis ace Aryna Sabalenka will take the crown. However, the 21-year-old Iga Swiatek has stormed the WTA Tour of late. She executed an excellent run, claiming two Grand Slam titles this season. In contrast to that, Sabalenka’s formed has fallen off a cliff. 

Instead of giving a tough fight to Swiatek for the ranking of World no.1 and majors, she struggled to string consistent performances. Adding to her misery, the Wimbledon ban happened, derailing her plans of catching up to the incumbent world no.1. The season which she started with hopes of making new records and touching new heights has turned into an underwhelming one. Here’s a stat that proves the same. 

Aryna Sabalenka banks a negative record

Sabalenka has a very aggressive style of play which brings her both winners and unforced errors. Though this year the balance has ruptured. The former World no.2 has set a negative record in one aspect of her game. She is the only WTA professional who will finish the season with 398 double faults listed under her name. 

The right-handed tennis ace has executed 398 double faults in the 50 matches she has played to date. Following her with a drift of around 100, the Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova is in the second position with 289 double faults.

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Further, a noteworthy name on the list is the 2022 French Open finalist Coco Gauff. The 18-year-old American who claimed many records and became the youngest WTA Finals contender and Grand Slam finalist since Maria Sharapova has made 255 double faults. She ranks fourth on the list of the most double faults.

Sabalenka’s performance this season

After executing a run till the fourth round of the Australian Open, the 24-year-old faced an opening-round dismissal in both Indian Wells and Miami Open. Thereafter, in the clay court season, she gave two noteworthy runs surrounded by initial round defeats. 

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Sabalenka made up to the finals of the Stuttgart Open and the semifinals of the Italian Open. In both tournaments, Swiatek was the one who knocked her out. Following that, she fought for the title at the WTA 250 event in the Netherlands. She lost her Rosmalen Grass Court Championships trophy to Ekaterina Alexandrova in straight sets. Then came the American swing, in which she performed considerably well. She reached the semifinals of two tournaments, the Cincinnati Masters and the US Open, but lost against the eventual champions, Caroline Garcia and Iga Swiatek.