Aryna Sabalenka’s hands trembled as she wiped away the tears that had started to stream down her face. It was an emotional moment, a rare crack in the usually composed exterior of the powerhouse tennis player who had just reached the pinnacle of her career. She had become World No. 1 in 2023, a moment that seemed almost impossible just a few years ago. But as she stood in front of a sea of reporters, ready to reflect on her success, she wasn’t just thinking about the titles, the records, or the accolades. In that moment, her mind was filled with one person: her late father, Sergey Sabalenka.
“I… I can’t believe how far I’ve come,” she began, her voice breaking slightly as she spoke. “But everything I am, everything I’ve done, is because of him. He was the one who gave me the strength to become who I am today.”
The room fell silent. For a moment, even the reporters, who were accustomed to hearing players speak about their journeys with a practiced sense of professionalism, seemed to hold their breath. Aryna, usually known for her fierce determination on the court, was now showing a side of herself that few had seen before: the vulnerable, emotional daughter who had lost her greatest supporter.
As the press conference continued, Sabalenka spoke about the pivotal role her father had played in her tennis career. “He was my first coach. He introduced me to tennis when I was just a little girl. I didn’t really understand what it meant back then, but he saw something in me, even when I couldn’t see it myself.”
Aryna’s father had always been her rock, the steady force behind her early years in the sport. Born in Belarus, Aryna had grown up in a family where sports were deeply ingrained in their lifestyle. Her father, a former amateur tennis player himself, saw the potential in his daughter long before anyone else. He dedicated his time to teaching her the basics, building the foundations of her game with a patience and passion that Aryna would carry with her throughout her career.
“It wasn’t easy,” she continued, her voice gaining strength as she spoke. “He pushed me hard—sometimes harder than I wanted. But he knew what it took to succeed. He would say to me, ‘It’s not just about being good at tennis, Aryna. It’s about being strong, being mentally tough, and never giving up, no matter what.’ Those words stayed with me.”
As Aryna’s career began to take off, it was clear that her father’s influence was indelible. He was always by her side, whether it was at tournaments or practice sessions. His belief in her was unwavering, even when the rest of the world doubted her. In the early days, she was often dismissed as too erratic, too temperamental to compete with the best. But Sergey Sabalenka never lost faith. He reminded her that greatness wasn’t built overnight—it came with grit, resilience, and an unyielding belief in oneself.
When Aryna first broke into the top 10 in 2020, she dedicated the achievement to him. When she won her first Grand Slam title, it was his face she saw in her mind as she stood with the trophy. And when she rose to World No. 1 in 2023, it felt as though everything had come full circle. Yet, despite the incredible triumph, there was always a sense of emptiness without her father by her side. Sergey had passed away two years earlier, just before Aryna’s breakthrough into the elite ranks of tennis. His death had been a devastating blow, one that Aryna struggled to cope with in the aftermath.
“It was… hard,” she admitted, pausing for a moment to compose herself. “After he passed, I thought about quitting tennis. It felt like the one person who truly understood me was gone. But then I remembered everything he taught me. He wouldn’t want me to stop. He would want me to keep fighting, to keep pushing, and to make him proud. So I did. Everything I do now is for him.”
Her tears returned, but this time, they were accompanied by a quiet sense of peace. The weight of her father’s absence would never be fully erased, but Aryna had come to realize that his legacy lived on in her every match, every victory, and every challenge she overcame. His spirit was there in the determination she showed on the court, in the unwavering focus with which she trained, and in the fire that burned inside her whenever she stepped onto the court.
“The victories, the titles, the rankings—they’re important, of course. But they don’t matter as much as knowing that I’ve honored him,” Aryna said, her voice now steadier. “He will always be in my heart. Every time I hit a forehand, every time I serve, I know he’s with me. I feel him in everything I do.”
Her words resonated deeply with the tennis world. Fans who had watched her rise through the ranks, admired her aggressive style of play, and cheered her on as she became one of the most dominant players in women’s tennis, now saw her in a new light. She wasn’t just a fierce competitor; she was a young woman who had been shaped by love, loss, and an unbreakable bond with her father.
As the press conference came to a close, Aryna wiped away the last of her tears and smiled, her eyes reflecting both a sense of sorrow and a deep, enduring gratitude. “I know he’s watching me,” she said softly. “And wherever he is, I hope he’s proud.”
The room erupted into applause, not for the titles, not for the rankings, but for the raw honesty and vulnerability that Aryna Sabalenka had shared in that moment. She had given the world a glimpse into the heart of a champion, one whose success was not just measured in trophies, but in the love and strength of the person who had helped guide her to the top.
