Aryna Sabalenka Reflects on Career-Changing Moment After Miami Open Triumph

Aryna Sabalenka credits her ability to manage emotions as a key factor in securing her first Miami Open title. In her seventh appearance at the tournament, the Belarusian overcame early struggles to defeat Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 in the final.

Despite an inconsistent serve in the first set, Sabalenka’s aggressive return game helped her recover from multiple breaks. In the second set, she quickly turned a one-game deficit into a dominant performance, breaking Pegula three times without losing her own serve.

Sabalenka: “I Didn’t Want to Be That Player Anymore”

Reflecting on her journey, Sabalenka revealed a pivotal mindset shift:

“One day, I just decided, ‘OK, whatever happens on the court, I’m not going to show my emotions.’ I went through a lot, and there are tougher things in life than a missed shot. I was done letting frustration take over.”

The three-time Grand Slam champion admitted that emotional outbursts and racket-smashing cost her in key matches earlier in her career. However, after winning the 2023 Australian Open, she embraced a new mentality—one that transformed her into a stronger, more composed competitor.

Since committing to this change, Sabalenka has become the most dominant Grand Slam winner on the WTA Tour and has held the world No. 1 ranking since September.