Sabalenka: "Since I won my first Grand Slam, I am a different person"

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An exercise in constant self-improvement, daily work, and resilience is what Aryna Sabalenka has been doing for years and what is allowing her to build an empire of glory in this sport. After adding her eighth WTA 1000 category title by winning the Miami Open 2025, the Belarusian reflected on her virtues and the journey that has brought her to where she is now.

The more one suffers along the way, the more enjoyable it is to reach the goal. This mantra can be reaffirmed by Aryna Sabalenka, who is now reaping all that has been sown over the years. She was once seen as a great promise but succumbed to her own anxiety and was unable to unleash her potential. She built up a shield of disappointments until she became the practically impregnable tennis player she is today. She reflected on this during the press conference after her victory at the Miami Open 2025.

- Assessment of her dominance over Pegula

"It's always a great challenge to face her, even though I usually win. I never do it easily and I feel like everything is decided in a few points in each set. I really enjoy our battles; I know how she feels because I experienced that for a while against Iga. However, I believe that rivalries like this push us both to become better tennis players every day," said Sabalenka, who leads 6-2 in head-to-head matches against the American.

- Improved emotional management and reduced reliance on serve

"In the past, I had many issues with my serve, went through phases where it was a burden to my game, and learned to develop and enhance other weapons I have in my game. Now, I know I can win important matches even when my serve isn't working. I told myself some time ago that I couldn't continue to show frustration on the court,” she said.

"I've been through too many difficult situations in my life to behave like a child on a tennis court because things aren't going my way. Now, I just send myself positive messages. Ever since I won my first Grand Slam in Australia, I am a different person and a different player. I realized many things, and it has also helped me to look back at photos of my achievements when I'm sad and write down my plans in life when I'm angry. All of that helps me organize my thoughts and makes me realize and appreciate how lucky I am," she affirmed.

- Expectations for the clay court season

After starting the year with successes and having overcome the setback of losing in the Australian Open final, Aryna Sabalenka faces the toughest stretch of the season for her, the clay court season. She does so with a lead of over 3,000 points in the WTA ranking over Swiatek and with the confidence to continue improving on this surface.

"I am physically strong, I know I can endure long rallies, and I don't have to rush looking for winners. I believe that is the key to further improving my game on clay, so we will focus on ensuring that my physical condition is optimal during this stretch of the season," stated the Belarusian.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sabalenka: "Desde que gané mi primer Grand Slam, soy una persona distinta"