Aryna Sabalenka has opened up about a challenging period in her career when she nearly walked away from tennis due to a crippling weakness that threatened to derail her progress. The Belarusian star, known for her powerful game and fierce competitive spirit, revealed that she struggled with an aspect of her game so much that it almost led her to quit the sport entirely.
Sabalenka, now a dominant force on the WTA Tour, admitted that her serve had become a major liability, causing her immense frustration and self-doubt. The double faults and inconsistency in her service games not only affected her results but also chipped away at her confidence. During this low point, she considered stepping away from the game altogether, questioning whether she had the ability to overcome the issue.
In her candid interview, Sabalenka shared how this period was one of the toughest times in her life. “It was really hard. I almost gave up on tennis,” she confessed. “I was losing matches because of my serve, and it felt like I couldn’t fix it. I started doubting everything, and at one point, I thought maybe tennis isn’t for me anymore.”
However, with determination and the help of her team, Sabalenka was able to confront her weakness head-on. She worked tirelessly on her serve, seeking guidance from coaches and sports psychologists to regain control of her mental game and technical consistency. Slowly but surely, she started to see improvements, and her hard work paid off with strong performances in subsequent tournaments.
Reflecting on her journey, Sabalenka emphasized the importance of perseverance and self-belief. “I’m glad I didn’t give up,” she said. “Tennis is my passion, and I had to remind myself of that. I knew I had the strength to overcome this, even if it felt impossible at times.”
Now, Sabalenka is reaping the rewards of her perseverance, with multiple titles under her belt and a top ranking to her name. She hopes her story will inspire other athletes to keep fighting through their struggles, no matter how difficult things may seem. “If you love something, you have to keep going, even when it’s hard,” she said. “I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I know there’s still more to achieve.”
