As the magnificent opening set of the US Open final between Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegulareached its breathless climax on Saturday evening in New York, the supreme quality of their shotmaking belied the suffocating tension on both sides of the net. After failing to serve out the set against a resolute Pegula, the No 2 seed desperately tried to avoid the familiar sensation of collapsing under pressure in a significant grand slam match.
The US Open champion has addressed flaws in her shotmaking, serve and psyche to reach new heights
