Aryna Sabalenka, the current World No. 1, has opened up about how hitting rock bottom became the turning point in her tennis career. Her candid reflections came on the heels of a dominant title run at the Miami Open, where she swept aside Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 in a rematch of their US Open showdown, clinching another WTA 1000 crown in style.
While she now sits atop the women’s game, commanding courts with power and poise, Sabalenka’s journey to the top wasn’t without serious turbulence. Just a couple of seasons ago, in 2022, she found herself spiraling, plagued by a service game in disarray. Racking up 428 double faults that year, she even resorted to the rare and desperate tactic of underarm serving, her confidence crumbling with every toss.
The contrast between that struggling version of Sabalenka and the current hard-hitting, composed champion is night and day. Reflecting on her evolution, she shared how those challenging moments forced her to explore and embrace other aspects of her game.
“I struggled a lot in the past with a lot of different things, so I went through really different challenges, and I was struggling with my serve so much, I couldn’t serve for a while, so I had to play without the serve,” she told reporters in Miami.
That critical period of adversity, though painful, became the foundation for her reinvention. With her go-to weapon malfunctioning, Sabalenka had no choice but to rely on the rest of her arsenal—her groundstrokes, movement, and strategic play. It reshaped the way she viewed her capabilities on court.
“I think that was the moment when I realized that I actually have other weapons in my game and strengths, and I can actually win the match even if my serve is not working.”
This mental shift didn’t just stay tactical. She made a deliberate choice to overhaul her on-court demeanor, committing to emotional discipline during matches. Her growth became not only technical but psychological.
“Then one day, yeah, I just decided, okay, whatever happens on the court, I’m not going to show my emotions. I went through a lot, and there is much more difficult stuff in life than just a tennis match, so I was, like whatever happens, I’m not going to show any emotions. I’m done with that.”
She continued, emphasizing how letting go of negative emotions became pivotal in her mental makeover: “I’m not going to be that kid who’s, like, getting frustrated and losing the matches. So it worked really well, and I think it was just, like, the first year when I won the Australian Open.”
Winning that Grand Slam title wasn’t just a career milestone—it was proof that she had turned a psychological corner. “I just realised a lot of things, and since then I’m a different person, a different player. Like, the mental part of the game, it was a huge improvement.”
Sabalenka’s self-awareness extends beyond technical fixes. When asked about the emotional rollercoaster she seems to ride during points—especially when errors creep in—she acknowledged the internal pep talks she relies on to stay in control.
“Sometimes when I’m losing several points in the row, I’m just reminding myself ‘Come on, you can fight through it, you can win this match, win the point’. I’m just reminding myself how tough I am and strong I am and that I can go through it,” she said.
Rather than berating herself for mistakes, she now leans into self-encouragement and composure, even when she’s tempted to question her choices mid-rally. “I’m just helping myself and not really charging myself too much anymore on the court. Probably sometimes talk to myself about the tactic and stuff, like, Why would I do that? I don’t know.”
The motivation behind her Miami title run was fueled not just by a hunger for victory, but also by the sting of recent losses. Defeats to Madison Keys at the Australian Open and teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva in Indian Wells had clearly left their mark.
“I didn’t want to lose another final, to be honest,” she admitted, speaking with both humor and grit. “It’s really tough to lose in the final. I was impressed by myself, honestly.”
Sabalenka’s comeback tale is more than just a story of fixing a faulty serve—it’s a blueprint for mental fortitude in sport. Her ability to weather the storm, refocus her energy, and rediscover her strengths has not only elevated her game but reshaped her legacy. From unraveling under pressure to rewriting her script as one of tennis’ fiercest competitors, Sabalenka’s transformation is nothing short of championship caliber.