Dual Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka figured out how mentally tough she was last year.
Already unable to play under the Belarusian flag because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – and dealing with the criticism and extra attention that came from that – Sabalenka found out in March that her ex-boyfriend died of what police determined was “apparent suicide”.
World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka is chasing a third Australian Open title in a row.Credit: Getty Images
There was confusion on whether Konstantin Koltsov was still her partner until Sabalenka clarified in a heartfelt statement about the ex-Belarusian ice hockey player.
The world No.1, then ranked second behind Iga Swiatek, played at Indian Wells in the days afterwards, but did not do any media as she came to terms with the tragedy.
“Honestly, I don’t know how [I continued to play]. My team got a bit nervous after the last situation [with my ex-boyfriend], and they hired a psychologist,” Sabalenka told this masthead.
“When I spoke to him, he was like, ‘How did you handle so many dramas in your life?’ and at that moment, I realised, ‘OK, I don’t need the psychologist. I can handle it by myself’.
“I think, first of all, you cannot control others. You can only control yourself, your behaviour, and your attitude to things, and you just have to focus on the positives.”
Sabalenka believes those significant challenges “improved” her as a player and person, a journey she said was ongoing.
Her on-court results were spectacular in 2024.
A shoulder injury caused Sabalenka to withdraw from Wimbledon, but she won the Australian Open and US Open titles, as well as WTA 1000 events in Cincinnati and Wuhan, and reached the Roland-Garros quarter-finals.
Sabalenka roars in celebration during her US Open final win over Jessica Pegula.Credit: Getty Images
She also made the Brisbane, Madrid and Rome finals, so the powerful Belarusian was consistently at the pointy end of tournaments.
Sabalenka’s excellence was rewarded when she returned to the top ranking in October for the first time in a year.
That came during the Asian hardcourt swing when Swiatek was sidelined, which the tennis world discovered later owed to her being provisionally suspended after testing positive to banned substance trimetazidine.
Swiatek successfully argued that her result came from contaminated melatonin pills, which she uses to ward off jet lag. Sabalenka’s Polish rival received a 30-day ban that included time served, and has been free to play since early December.
“Nobody knew what was going on … so, honestly, I have no comments on that situation,” Sabalenka said.
“I focused on myself and improving as a player, and it’s not like I became No.1 in just that period. The whole year, I was working hard, and winning a lot of tournaments and putting her under pressure, so she had to stay on the high level to keep her position.
“Whatever happened to her, I believe in a clean sport. People always overreact when they see something without trying to figure what actually happened and understand the player.
“They’re always going to find things to judge someone successful. So, I prefer to believe that there is a clean sport and she’s innocent. If they prove that, it means that she is innocent.”
Sabalenka and Swiatek have been the WTA Tour’s dominant players since Australia’s Ash Barty retired as the then-world No.1 shortly after winning the 2022 Australian Open.
They have developed a strong rivalry, so it was fascinating to see them set that aside to train together in Abu Dhabi last month while there for the World Tennis League team exhibition.
“I feel like when you first start getting to that top-five level, you are always trying to stay away from everybody,” Sabalenka said.
“It’s not like I was against her, or rude to her. I think everyone just focuses on themselves. But when you get to a certain point, you can take it easier, and not become best friends, but at least we can practice together.
“It’s going to help each other, to improve each other, to push each other to the next level. It’s really cool to practice with someone you have a rivalry with.”
Swiatek’s training intensity rubbed off on Sabalenka, who said she was forced to raise the bar against the five-time major champion.
They will arrive in Melbourne with contrasting histories at the year’s opening grand slam, which starts next Sunday.
Swiatek’s best result is a semi-final in 2022, but she lost in the third and fourth round, respectively, the past two years, whereas Sabalenka will bid to become the first woman since Swiss great Martina Hingis in 1999 to win the Australian Open three straight times.
“Honestly, I didn’t know about that until probably a few days ago when I saw a tweet,” Sabalenka said.
“It’s cool to achieve such an incredible goal and dream of so many young players … if I’ll be able to bring my best tennis, I know that I’m able to do that.”
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