50 Facts About Aryna Sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka: Early Life and Introduction to Tennis

Aryna Sabalenka's journey to becoming a tennis sensation began in her hometown of Minsk, Belarus. Her early life set the stage for her future success on the court.

1. Birth and Early Life: Aryna Sabalenka was born on May 5, 1998, in Minsk, Belarus. Her father, Sergey, played ice hockey and introduced her to tennis by chance.

2. Introduction to Tennis: Her tennis journey began when her father took her to a tennis court while driving her somewhere. She enjoyed it and decided to pursue it further.

3. Training and Academy: Sabalenka began training at the National Tennis Academy in Minsk when it opened in 2014. She initially competed on the U14 and U16 Tennis Europe tours instead of the ITF Junior Circuit.

Professional Debut and Early Success

Aryna's professional career took off with a series of significant milestones that showcased her potential and determination.

4. Professional Debut: Sabalenka started her professional career on the ITF Women's Circuit in 2012, even before competing on the ITF Junior Circuit. Her first five tournaments were in Minsk, but she did not win a main draw match in any of them.

5. First Professional Win: She won her first professional match at the end of 2014 in Istanbul. She then won her first two titles in back-to-back weeks in Antalya, both at the $10k level, and a $25k title at the end of the year, which placed her in the top 300 WTA rankings for the first time.

6. Fed Cup Debut: Sabalenka made her Fed Cup debut in April 2016, losing her only match. She also won two significant titles at the $50k level, which helped her finish the year ranked No. 137 in the world.

Rise to Prominence

Aryna's talent and hard work soon propelled her into the spotlight, earning her recognition and success on the international stage.

7. Rise to Prominence: Sabalenka came to prominence in 2017 when she, along with Aliaksandra Sasnovich, led the Belarus Fed Cup team to a runner-up finish despite both players being ranked outside the top 75 at the time.

8. Career High Rankings: By the end of 2018 and 2019, Sabalenka was ranked No. 11 in the world in singles. She peaked at the world No. 2 ranking in 2021 after two major singles semifinal appearances but struggled to maintain that success consistently in 2022.

Grand Slam Achievements

Aryna Sabalenka's Grand Slam performances have been nothing short of remarkable, with several titles and records to her name.

9. Major Singles Titles: Sabalenka won her first major singles title at the 2023 Australian Open, defeating Elena Rybakina in the final. She then defended her title in 2024, defeating Zheng Qinwen in the final. She also won her third major singles title at the 2024 US Open.

10. Grand Slam Performance: Sabalenka has reached the semifinals or better at the last six Grand Slams in a row, a feat not achieved by another woman since Serena Williams in 2014-2017.

11. Grand Slam Records: She is the first woman to win back-to-back Australian Open titles since Victoria Azarenka in 2012-2013 and the ninth woman in the Open Era to achieve this feat.

12. Unbeaten Sets: Sabalenka was the first woman to win a Grand Slam title without dropping a set in two years, a feat last achieved by Ashleigh Barty at the 2022 Australian Open. She also became the fifth woman since 2000 to win the Australian Open without losing a set, joining Lindsay Davenport, Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams, and Barty.

13. Grand Slam Quarterfinals: Sabalenka has won all eight of her Grand Slam quarterfinals so far in straight sets, making her the only woman in the Open Era to do so. She is also 8-0 in her career in Grand Slam quarterfinals, a record shared only by Chris Evert, who won her first 48 in a row.

Doubles Career and Rankings

Aryna's prowess extends beyond singles, with impressive achievements in doubles and a top ranking to her name.

14. Doubles Career: Sabalenka has won six doubles titles in her career, including two major doubles titles at the 2019 US Open and the 2021 Australian Open, both partnering with Elise Mertens. She reached the top ranking for doubles in February 2021 but stopped playing doubles to focus on singles.

15. Current Rankings: As of September 2023, Sabalenka became the world No. 1 in both singles and doubles by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA). She is currently one of the top-ranked players in the world.

Personal Life and Interests

Beyond the tennis court, Aryna Sabalenka's personal life and interests add depth to her story.

16. Nickname: Sabalenka is often referred to as the "Warrior Princess" due to her fearless and powerful game on the court.

17. Hobbies: She enjoys pancakes, dogs, and reading. Her favorite book is "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas.

18. Social Media: Sabalenka is active on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram. She has more than 152,700 followers on X, over 117,000 followers on Facebook, and more than 2.3 million followers on Instagram.

19. Boyfriend: Sabalenka is currently dating Brazilian Georgios Frangulis, the owner of the brand Oakberry. The couple went Instagram official in May 2024. She was previously dating Konstantin Koltsov, who passed away in March 2024.

Career Highlights and Achievements

Aryna Sabalenka's career is filled with numerous highlights and achievements that showcase her talent and dedication.

20. Career Titles: Sabalenka has won 23 career titles, 17 in singles and 6 in doubles. She has also won seven WTA 1000 titles, including the Wuhan Open twice and the Madrid Open twice.

21. Prize Money: Sabalenka has won close to $28.6 million in prize money, both in singles and doubles. Her updated prize money stats can be seen on her WTA Tour profile page.

22. Coach: Sabalenka is currently working with Anton Dubrov, her former hitting partner. She previously worked with Dieter Kindlmann, Dmitry Tursunov, and Sascha Bajin.

23. Fed Cup Performance: Sabalenka has been a key player in the Belarus Fed Cup team. In 2017, she helped the team reach the final despite being ranked outside the top 75 at the time.

24. Junior Career: Sabalenka had a late start on the ITF Junior Circuit, instead competing on the U14 and U16 Tennis Europe tours. She never played in the main draw of any ITF events until 2013 at the low-level Grade-4 Tallink Cup in Estonia at the age of 15.

25. First ITF Title: Sabalenka won her first ITF title in doubles at the lowest-level Grade-5 Alatan Tour Cup in Belarus in late 2013 with compatriot Vera Lapko as her partner. She excelled at Grade 4 events in 2014, reaching her first singles final at the Estonian Junior Open and winning her first singles title at the MTV Total Junior Cup in Finland.

26. Career High Ranking in Juniors: Without the higher point levels from junior Grand Slam tournaments, Sabalenka had a career-high ranking of just No. 225 in the junior circuit.

27. Early Success: In 2014, Sabalenka defended her Alatan Tour Cup doubles title with compatriot Nika Shytkouskaya and also won the singles title. This marked the beginning of her professional career, where she started to gain recognition and win titles.

28. First Professional Match Win: Sabalenka won her first professional match at the end of 2014 in Istanbul. This victory marked a significant milestone in her career, as it was her first win on the professional circuit.

29. First Two Titles: In October 2015, Sabalenka won her first two titles in back-to-back weeks in Antalya, both at the $10k level. She then won a $25k title at the end of the year, which placed her in the top 300 WTA rankings for the first time.

30. Fed Cup Debut Loss: Sabalenka made her Fed Cup debut in April 2016, losing her only match. Despite this loss, she continued to improve and rise through the ranks.

31. Career-Best Titles: Sabalenka won her biggest titles to date at the $50k level in Tianjin and Toyota. The first title in Tianjin put her into the top 200 in May, and the second title in Toyota helped her finish the year ranked at No. 137 in the world.

32. First WTA Semifinal: Sabalenka reached her first ever WTA semifinal at the Tashkent Open in 2016, defeating third seed and world No. 53, Tatjana Maria, along the way. She then entered the Tianjin Open as the 119th-ranked player in the world but managed to reach her first WTA tournament final, where she faced her childhood idol Maria Sharapova but lost in two tight sets.

33. Career Progression: After losing a tight Fed Cup final to the United States, Sabalenka finished the season by winning the biggest title of her career at the time at the Mumbai Open, a WTA 125 event. This title cemented her at No. 73 at the end of the year.

34. Major Breakthroughs: In 2021, Sabalenka peaked at the world No. 2 ranking after two major singles semifinal appearances. She then reached the top ranking in doubles in February 2021 but stopped playing doubles to focus on singles.

35. Australian Open Success: Sabalenka won her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in 2023, defeating Elena Rybakina in the final. She then defended her title in 2024, defeating Zheng Qinwen in the final. This back-to-back victory made her the first woman to win consecutive Australian Open titles since Victoria Azarenka in 2012-2013.

36. US Open Victory: Sabalenka added another major title to her collection by winning the 2024 US Open. This victory marked her third Grand Slam title and solidified her position as one of the top players in the world.

37. Grand Slam Quarterfinals Record: Sabalenka has an impressive record in Grand Slam quarterfinals, winning all eight of her matches so far in straight sets. This feat is shared only by Chris Evert, who won her first 48 in a row.

38. Career Statistics: As of September 2024, Sabalenka has won 17 singles titles worldwide, including back-to-back Australian Opens and the US Open. She has also won six doubles titles and seven WTA 1000 titles.

39. Prize Money Earnings: Sabalenka has earned close to $28.6 million in prize money, both in singles and doubles. Her updated prize money stats can be seen on her WTA Tour profile page.

40. Coach Changes: Sabalenka has worked with several coaches throughout her career, including Dieter Kindlmann, Dmitry Tursunov, Sascha Bajin, and currently Anton Dubrov.

41. Social Media Presence: Sabalenka is active on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram. She has more than 152,700 followers on X, over 117,000 followers on Facebook, and more than 2.3 million followers on Instagram.

42. Personal Life: Sabalenka is currently dating Brazilian Georgios Frangulis, the owner of the brand Oakberry. The couple went Instagram official in May 2024. She was previously dating Konstantin Koltsov, who passed away in March 2024.

43. Fed Cup Contributions: Sabalenka has been a key player in the Belarus Fed Cup team. In 2017, she helped the team reach the final despite being ranked outside the top 75 at the time.

44. Junior Circuit Performance: Sabalenka had a late start on the ITF Junior Circuit, instead competing on the U14 and U16 Tennis Europe tours. She never played in the main draw of any ITF events until 2013 at the low-level Grade-4 Tallink Cup in Estonia at the age of 15.

45. First ITF Doubles Title: Sabalenka won her first ITF doubles title at the lowest-level Grade-5 Alatan Tour Cup in Belarus in late 2013 with compatriot Vera Lapko as her partner.

46. Grade 4 Success: In 2014, Sabalenka excelled at Grade 4 events, reaching her first singles final at the Estonian Junior Open and winning her first singles title at the MTV Total Junior Cup in Finland.

47. Career High Ranking in Juniors: Without the higher point levels from junior Grand Slam tournaments, Sabalenka had a career-high ranking of just No. 225 in the junior circuit.

48. Early Success Continued: In 2014, Sabalenka defended her Alatan Tour Cup doubles title with compatriot Nika Shytkouskaya and also won the singles title. This marked the beginning of her professional career, where she started to gain recognition and win titles.

49. First Professional Match Win Continued: Sabalenka won her first professional match at the end of 2014 in Istanbul. This victory marked a significant milestone in her career, as it was her first win on the professional circuit.

50. Current Achievements: As of September 2024, Sabalenka continues to dominate the tennis world with her impressive performances. She remains one of the top-ranked players globally, known for her aggressive style of play and powerful serve.

Aryna Sabalenka: A Tennis Powerhouse

Aryna Sabalenka's journey from a young girl in Minsk to a global tennis sensation is nothing short of inspiring. Her fearless approach on the court, coupled with her powerful serve, has earned her the nickname "Warrior Princess." With three Grand Slam singles titles, including back-to-back Australian Open victories, Sabalenka has cemented her place among tennis elites. Her impressive record in Grand Slam quarterfinals, winning all eight in straight sets, showcases her determination and skill. Beyond singles, she's also a force in doubles, with two major titles to her name. Off the court, Aryna's engaging personality shines through her active social media presence, where she connects with millions of fans. As she continues to dominate the tennis world, Sabalenka's story serves as a testament to hard work, resilience, and the pursuit of greatness. Her journey is far from over, and the future looks incredibly bright.