Serena Williams reveals what she 'wasn't allowed' to do on court that Aryna Sabalenka can

Serena Williams made a return to singles tennis this summer as she attempted to win Wimbledon, but it did not go as she planned as the American was eliminated in the first round, while the world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka also did not lift the title.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion is arguably the greatest female tennis player to have played the sport, being the most successful woman to play in the Open Era.

However, she is still one Grand Slam behind Margaret Court’s record, and she will have to continue her return from retirement to achieve this feat.

For a large part of her career, she was ranked world No. 1, with this current honour being held by Sabalenka, the four-time Grand Slam champion.

The Belarusian is 28 years old, and it may be tough for her to achieve the level of success that Williams has had as a tennis professional, but there is still a possibility depending on the longevity of her career.

Aryna Sabalenka

Williams was full of praise for Sabalenka at the Fanatics Fest in Manhattan; however, she did point out the one thing that the Belarusian can do that she ‘wasn’t allowed’ to do on court.

“Sabalenka is number one. Okay. She’s such a spitfire," she said.

“You know, and she really gives her all when she’s out there. I see myself in that. And so I love that. I love that about her. Like, she’s just, and when she’s losing, she’s mad. And I wasn’t allowed to express my anger, but I love how she’s allowed to express her anger. And I love it.”

There are several moments across her career that Williams was being called out when she appeared frustrated on the court, notably during the 2018 US Open final against Naomi Osaka, when a heated exchange with the chair umpire turned into a series of code violations.

Sabalenka has had several moments of angry outbursts through her career as she expressed her emotions on the court, most notably smashing a racquet against a towel box during a US Open semi-final.

The 28-year-old will now travel to the US Open, the final Grand Slam of the season, aiming to lift the trophy for the third year in a row.

A victory in Flushing Meadows would mean that the Belarusian would have half the amount of US Opens that Williams has collected across her career.