“Aryna Sabalenka sometimes behaved incorrectly” – Ex-coach opens up about difficulties working with World No. 1 in her early days
Aryna Sabalenka’s former coach, Dmitry Tursunov, has recently shed light on the difficulties he faced while working with the current world No. 1 during her early days on the WTA Tour, revealing that her behavior at times was a point of contention. Tursunov, who coached Sabalenka starting in 2018 during her grass-court season, described her attitude as occasionally “incorrect” due to her youth and carefree nature, which led to misunderstandings between them. In an interview, he recalled a heated argument in 2018 following her first professional final on grass, where he was upset by her playful demeanor during a doubles match with Hsieh Su-wei, calling it a “negligent attitude” that prompted a strong reprimand. This clash escalated to the point where Sabalenka, then 20, considered firing him and even complained to her sponsor, though their partnership endured for another year and a half.
Tursunov highlighted that Sabalenka’s immaturity at the time—rising from No. 73 to nearly the top 10 in 2018—sometimes clashed with his intense coaching style, which prioritized results over leniency. He noted her lack of understanding of his reaction, saying, “At that time she didn’t understand what was going on,” and described moments where she vented frustrations, later apologizing but ultimately signaling a need for a change. Their collaboration ended in 2019, with Tursunov reflecting on the emotional toll, admitting it was a “difficult moment” but acknowledging her explosive personality as a factor in their split.
This revelation comes as Sabalenka, now a three-time Grand Slam champion, prepares for the Mubadala Citi DC Open, where she’s a top contender despite a Wimbledon semifinal loss to Amanda Anisimova. Tursunov’s comments suggest her early challenges with discipline and focus, which he believes she has since overcome under current coach Anton Dubrov, were pivotal in shaping her resilience. Posts found on X reflect mixed sentiments, with some fans defending her growth and others debating the coaching dynamic, though the narrative remains inconclusive without further context from Sabalenka herself.
