STUTTGART, GERMANY — It was a tense moment at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. The score was locked at 3-3 in a fiercely competitive first set between world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and her former doubles partner, Elise Mertens. After a long rally, Sabalenka’s shot landed just beyond the baseline—called out by the umpire, giving Mertens the advantage at 4-3.
Sabalenka challenged the call, visibly upset. When the chair umpire wouldn’t reverse the decision, she took matters into her own hands—literally. During the changeover, she marched over to the mark in the clay, examined it, and snapped a photo using a phone handed to her by someone in her box. The defiance cost her a code violation warning for unsportsmanlike conduct.
 |
| Francesco Marano dress. |
But then, in true Sabalenka fashion, she recalibrated. She settled herself mentally and powered through to win the match in straight sets. That fire, that resilience, is what defines Aryna Sabalenka—the reigning world No. 1 and a three-time Grand Slam champion.
A Tiger on the Court, a Human Off It
Two weeks before that Stuttgart match, in a Zoom conversation, Sabalenka reflected on how winning her first Grand Slam changed her mentality.
“I have to fight, and I have to be like a tiger on court,” she said. The tiger isn’t just a metaphor—it’s tattooed on her left forearm, a daily reminder to stay fierce and relentless.
 |
| Simkhai dress. Lady Grey earrings. Alexis Bittar bracelet. Nike shoes and sunglasses. |
But staying composed under pressure? That’s a work in progress. In her quarterfinal at the Italian Open earlier this year, Sabalenka received another code violation—this time for shouting at a fan who heckled her from the stands.
Explore More: Spain's Women’s Team Take Euro 2025 Stage Amid Fight for Equality
“We are human beings, not robots,” she later said in an email. “At that moment, I wasn’t feeling like my best and was overreacting.” Her response, she admits, wasn’t her proudest.
The Battle Within: “Me Against Me”
Tennis isn’t just a battle between two players—it’s often a psychological war. “It’s me against me,” Sabalenka has said after matches. And that internal conflict has shaped her career as much as her forehand or serve.
Born in Minsk, Belarus, Sabalenka picked up a tennis racket at six, thanks to her father, Sergey, a former ice hockey player. “I wasn’t a sitting-in-one-spot kid,” she recalls. They passed a tennis court one day and gave it a try. She was hooked.
 |
| Altuzarra dress. Diesel boots. |
Her father believed she’d be a Grand Slam champion before 25. That became their shared goal. But in 2019, when she was just breaking into the top 10, he passed away suddenly from meningitis. She was only 21.
Don’t Miss This: Inside Chet Holmgren’s Off-Court Life: Sneakers, Style, and a Sweet Tooth
“I was always under pressure,” she said. “Not from outside. Just because of myself.”
From Breakdown to Breakthrough
The pressure peaked in 2022. As shown in Netflix’s Break Point, she was battling both on- and off-court demons. Her serve crumbled—428 double faults that season, the most on the WTA Tour. She felt hated, partly due to political tensions surrounding Belarus and its ties to Russia.
She wanted to quit tennis.
But then came the turning point. She dismantled her serve and rebuilt it from scratch. Contrary to popular belief, the issue wasn’t mental—it was mechanical. She restructured everything and emerged stronger.
 |
| Francesco Marano dress. Misho earrings. |
She also redefined success. “I used to feel guilty if I wasn’t practicing,” she said. “Now I know it’s OK to have a life off the court.”
Check This Out: Manchester City Crush Juventus 5-2 to Top Group G at FIFA Club World Cup in Orlando
From recovery sessions and strength training to goofy TikToks with her team, Sabalenka began to balance ambition with joy. Her off-court laughter became as crucial as her on-court power.
A Grand Slam Promise Fulfilled
In 2023, her new mindset paid off. She won her first Grand Slam at the Australian Open, months before her 25th birthday—just as her father had dreamed. She ended 2024 as the world No. 1, having added the US Open to her trophy cabinet and successfully defending her title in Melbourne.
But 2024 brought new pain: the death of her ex-boyfriend, former NHL player Konstantin Koltsov. Still, Sabalenka channeled the grief into fuel. Her commitment never wavered.
“It’s tough,” she admitted. “But I know why I’m doing this.”
Embracing Emotion in a Judging World
Sabalenka doesn’t hide from her emotions—she uses them. “Sometimes it’s better to throw [emotions] out instead of holding inside,” she said. That might mean yelling, breaking a racket, or crying after a match. But it helps her reset.
She’s also painfully aware of the double standards women face. “People should take it easier on women. It’s tough to be a lady all the time, especially under pressure,” she said after the Rome incident.
Connecting with Fans, and Herself
Her aggressive game once led fans to view her as distant or cold. But by showing her silly, human side on social media and in press conferences—like joking with her fitness coach Jason Stacy or dancing on TikTok—fans began to relate to her.
 |
| Entire Studios top and skirt. Audemars Piguet watch. |
“People didn’t really feel connected with me before,” she said. “Now I feel so much love. I get goosebumps when I see kids dressed like me.”
She’s traded self-doubt for self-trust, online critics for real-life supporters. “You have to focus on people who support you,” she says. “Why would I waste my energy on people who hate me? It’s their problem.”
What Comes Next?
Aryna Sabalenka isn’t slowing down. As the top seed at this month’s French Open, she’s chasing her fourth Grand Slam. But beyond titles, she’s focused on resilience, joy, and legacy.
 |
| Issey Miyake dress and cardigan. |
One day, she hopes to have children and return to the court so they can see her work ethic firsthand. “Nothing gets to you in life if you’re not working for it,” she says—lessons she learned from her father and hopes to pass down.
Discover This: British & Irish Lions Set to Bounce Back After Argentina Loss with Western Force Test in Sight
“Of course I want to win as many tournaments as possible,” she adds, “but at the same time, I just want to help people to be strong.”
