Aryna Sabalenka sends message about Mirra Andreeva escaping “abusive” coaches as she reveals personal experiences after Indian Wells
Aryna Sabalenka has praised Mirra Andreeva for having the right people around her at a young age, highlighting the importance of a strong support system in a player’s development. Following her defeat to the 17-year-old in the Indian Wells final, Sabalenka reflected on her own struggles early in her career, revealing that she had been surrounded by the “wrong people” and took time to find a “healthy” team dynamic.
During the trophy ceremony, the world No. 1 jokingly suggested that if she had a team like Andreeva’s at the same age, she might have been a better player by now. However, in her post-match press conference, Sabalenka spoke candidly about the challenges she faced in her early years, even alluding to “abusive” coaching environments that she managed to escape.
“At that age, I was surrounded by so many wrong people,” Sabalenka admitted. “Once I was able to get rid of those people and surround myself with the right team, everything became much calmer, and I gained more confidence. The atmosphere became much healthier.”
Andreeva has credited much of her recent success to former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez, who joined her team last year. Sabalenka acknowledged the positive and nurturing influence Martinez brings, contrasting it with her own past experiences.
“She has Conchita, who is a very experienced and kind person. She doesn’t have any of the abusive things,” Sabalenka said, suggesting that Andreeva has been fortunate to avoid toxic coaching situations.
She also pointed out that the teenager’s family appears to play a key role in ensuring she is surrounded by the right people.
“Maybe it’s not just about her; maybe her family helps her find the right people,” Sabalenka continued. “She’s still young, so maybe it’s a team or family decision. It’s nice to see, and I’m happy for her.”
Although she has no regrets about her journey, the three-time Grand Slam champion admitted she sometimes wishes she had listened to her family more when she was younger.
“Because of my experiences, I’m much more mature now, and I know what I need. But of course, I wish I had been a little smarter at that age or listened to my family a bit more,” she reflected.
Now at the top of the women’s game, Sabalenka’s words serve as both a message of encouragement for Andreeva and a reminder of the struggles many young athletes face in navigating the pressures of professional tennis.
