Aryna Sabalenka Told to Change Coaching Approach as Australian Open 2027 Prediction Emerges

The former women world number one tennis player Aryna Sabalenka has recently come under the radar not for her performance but her behaviour after she lost the US Open 2026 final against compatriot and the new world number one Elena Rybakina.

Shortly after the match was finished, Sabalenka smashed her racket, and she was even heard yelling at the camera operator to **** off as she stewed over loss. After failing to win a single major this year, the Belarusian has been told to consider a change in her coaching team and add a fresh face. Some even raised questions about where she goes from here.

The topic was discussed by the former world number one women’s doubles player Rennae Stubbs and fellow pundit Andrea Petkovic who believes that some things need to change for Sabalenka going forward. In her current coaching set up, she has her coach - Anton Dubrov, fitness coach Jason Stacy, hitting partner Andrei Vasilevski and data scientist Shane Liyanage, among others.

Dubrov has been working with her for the past six years, helping her win four Grand Slams and reach the number one world ranking. However, Stubbs believes it is not her coaching rather her own mentality that is letting her down in the big matches. Stubbs also said, although she may have one only one of her last five major finals, she is backing her to win the Australian Open in January 2027.

Stubb quoted, “I think if she sits down and looks at what she can get better at. She has lost a lot of matches because of her own mentality. Maybe she doesn’t need a coaching change because all those guys understand her. Or she does because somebody needs to stand up and say, ‘this is unacceptable behaviour.’

She was slapping her hand at them and I said that is just her way she reacts to pressure but sometimes when you get another coach they will say that is not acceptable to me. I won't allow you to do that or I am out of here. Anton is a great guy, a lovely guy. He has done unbelievable things. But I think there is something to be said. You have to say, if you continue to act like this in the big matches, then I am not the person for you because you are not reacting to what I am telling you or you need a psychologist.”

The former world number 9, thinks the opposite, and she believes that adding a new face in her coaching staff would be beneficial for Sabalenka but must also keep hold of Dubrov. She added, “I do think she should maybe add people but I don’t think she should get rid of Anton even if she can help it.”