Aryna Sabalenka has opened up about a challenging period that nearly led her to retire from tennis, describing it as a “sign to quit” during a 2022 struggle with her serve. The world No. 1, who has since claimed three Grand Slam titles, shared this revelation in a recent interview with Cosmopolitan, reflecting on a time when her game hit a low point. Sabalenka explained that her serve, once a significant weakness marked by 428 double faults in 55 matches that year—151 more than any other WTA player—caused her to question her future in the sport. She admitted, “We really tried everything to improve my serve, but nothing worked. I told myself that maybe it was a sign to give up, to stop playing tennis and move on to something else.”
This crisis came during a season captured by Netflix’s *Break Point* series, where she faced mounting pressure at age 24, compounded by external factors like Belarus’s involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which affected her public perception. Despite considering retirement, Sabalenka chose perseverance, viewing it as a turning point. She noted, “I stayed with it, worked even harder, and mentally, I found myself,” crediting her team’s support and the addition of new coaches for helping her overcome the hurdle. This decision paid off, transforming her serve into a strength, leading to Grand Slam wins at the 2023 and 2024 Australian Opens and the 2024 US Open, and establishing her as the WTA’s top player with a 47-9 record in 2025.
Sabalenka’s admission highlights her resilience, a trait she traces back to her late father’s advice to “fight” and “work hard.” She now sees those struggles as a catalyst for her current success, though she acknowledges the mental toll, saying, “Tennis is mostly mental. You talk to yourself and manage your emotions.” As she prepares for the North American hard-court swing, starting with the Cincinnati Open after skipping the Canadian Open, her story of nearly quitting adds depth to her dominance, especially as she defends her US Open title in August 2025.
