Aryna Sabalenka closed off the greatest season of her career last year as the second-best player in the world, yet it was difficult to assess her progress. On one hand, she had achieved so much, winning her first grand slam title, providing Iga Swiatek with a true rival and performing so consistently throughout the season. But she could have done so much more.
After triumphing at the Australian Open, Sabalenka made deep runs at each of the remaining grand slam tournaments, with two further semi-finals and a final. In each of her eventual defeats, she led before crumbling under pressure. It ended as a great year, but it really could have been one of the best seasons of the past decade.
