Comparisons are often made between players on the ATP and WTA Tours.
Whether that be to do with equal prize money, how many sets they play at Grand Slams and mixed doubles, there is often a debate between men and women’s tennis.
Carlos Alcaraz is the world number one on the ATP Tour after winning the US Open, while Aryna Sabalenka leads the WTA.
Sabalenka is one of the hardest-hitting players on the WTA Tour, and can actually strike the ball harder than some ATP players.
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty ImagesRick Macci says why he thinks some WTA players hit harder than men
Sabalenka has been recorded as hitting harder than many ATP players including Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic.
Someone who knows what it is like to work with players on both the ATP and WTA Tours is tennis coach Rick Macci, who has previously worked with the Williams sisters, Maria Sharapova, Andy Roddick and Jennifer Capriati.
In a recent post on X (formerly known as Twitter), Macci suggested that female tennis players generally hit flatter, which creates more speed, whereas men use more spin.
Macci said, “Was asked about some women hitting harder than men. Some do for sure because the women hit a cleaner ball at times with less spin as it is flatter (especially backhands) and a different objective as they are inside the sidelines more in general during rallies and so the stats will show the average overall this speed. The men have to cover more real estate outside the court where spin is their best friend.”
Was asked about some women hitting harder than men. Some do for sure because the women hit a cleaner ball at times with less spin as it is flatter(especially backhands) and a different objective as they are Inside the sidelines more in general during rallies and so the stats will…
— Rick Macci (@RickMacci) September 14, 2025
View Tweet
Why Aryna Sabalenka felt ‘uncomfortable’ after discovering statistic about hitting harder than ATP players
Sabalenka has won the US Open for two consecutive years, with the New York hard courts seeming to suit her powerful game style.
At the 2024 US Open, a statistic was released that showcased just how hard Sabalenka was really hitting the ball, with an average forehand speed of 80 mph (miles per hour).
This was higher than Alcaraz, Sinner and Djokovic, but Sabalenka admitted that she was not completely comfortable with this statistic when asked about it at the US Open last year.
“I saw my stats on my forehand, and I actually can’t believe it’s that fast,” Sabalenka said after the US Open quarterfinals last year. “I saw my stats on my forehand, and I actually can’t believe it’s that fast.
“It felt kind of uncomfortable being at the top [of the list] and even hitting harder than guys. That’s a really interesting stat.”
The Belarusian will be looking to use this power in the coming months, with Sabalenka set to play Nick Kyrgios in a ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match.