Aryna Sabalenka, the World No. 1 tennis player declares the desire to be a good example of the next generation of tennis players, although occasionally she fails to fulfill her purpose.
The Belarusian star came out in a statement after she received a serious backlash following an explosion in her semifinal loss to Jessica Pegula at the Wuhan Open, she threw her racket in exasperation. The racket hit a bench and was very close to a nearby ball kid, although Sabalenka was only warned about racket abuse.
In an interview with AFP this week, Aryna Sabalenka indicated that her tennis motivation changed with the course of time. Personally, I lost my father, and this loss was what made tennis something so bigger to me. Now I would only like to know how far I can go in this sport and motivate the new generation.
Aryna Sabalenka also confessed that she is not always perfect. I am not a good example sometimes, I said laughing. But perhaps I can be also a model of what not to do. In the majority of cases, I attempt to do the right thing – and that is what I get motivated by.
The 26-year-old also had a 2-0 lead in the final set over Pegua but the American recovered to win 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(2). The loss ended 19 straight tiebreak victories and 20 consecutive wins at the Wuhan Open that Sabalenka had experienced.
Pegula was then defeated in the final to Coco Gauff 6-4, 7-5 – one of the players with whom Sabalenka has a portion of history. Sabalenka herself also received criticism in early 2020 during the French Open when she minimized the performance of Gauff in the final, citing her own terrible tennis and the windy weather in Paris.
Aryna Sabalenka subsequently apologized, saying to the Eurosport Germany that she personally contacted Gauff in order to reconcile. I was utterly unprofessional, that, she said. I allowed my feelings to prevail. I do regret that I said so. Everyone knows such moments, we are all humans, and I am not perfect yet.
Aryna Sabalenka has been just as much playing with the aim of dominating women tennis since she regained the No. 1 position last fall. She is a four-time Grand Slam champion (back-to-back Australian open champion in 2023 and 2024 and the U.S. Open in 2024 and 2025).
Although there are ups and downs, Sabalenka claims that her primary aim is to continue developing now – as a player and as a role model.
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