Three years after almost walking away from the sport in frustration, Aryna Sabalenka cemented her status as the world's best player with her victory at the US Open.

The fiery 27-year-old from Belarus produced a performance of ruthless efficiency to see off Amanda Anisimova in straight sets to clinch the fourth Grand Slam title of her career.

Those closest to Sabalenka say her journey to the top is the result of a new-found mental durability that has seen her find peace on and off the court.

"As everyone knows, she's quite an emotional player and an emotional person," Sabalenka's fitness trainer Jason Stacy explained on the eve of Saturday's 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) victory over Anisimova at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"How she feels is going to determine what direction she's going to go in" Stacy a

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