Aryna Sabalenka, a Belarusian professional tennis player born on May 5, 1998, has reached the pinnacle of women’s tennis, holding the world No. 1 ranking in singles by the WTA.
Her journey began serendipitously when she first stepped onto a tennis court with her father, leading her to train at the National Tennis Academy in Belarus starting in 2014.
Since then, she has amassed an impressive record of 18 WTA Tour-level singles titles, highlighted by her Grand Slam victories at the 2023 and 2024 Australian Open, and the 2024 US Open.
In addition to her singles success, Sabalenka has also excelled in doubles, securing six titles, including the 2019 US Open and 2021 Australian Open, both alongside Elise Mertens.
Parents
Aryna was born in Minsk, Belarus, to Sergey and Yulia Sabalenka. Her father, Sergey, a former ice hockey player, was the one who introduced her to the world of tennis at a young age.
Sadly, he passed away in 2019 at the age of 43 due to meningitis.
Aryna has often spoken about the important role her parents played in her life and shares a close bond with her mother, Yulia.
She also has a younger sister named Tonechka Sabalenka.
Career
Sabalenka’s journey to the top of professional tennis has been marked by consistent progress and significant milestones.
Initially making waves in 2017 by leading the Belarus Fed Cup team to a runner-up finish, she demonstrated her potential early on, even before she was a household name in the sport.
The 2018 season saw Sabalenka make significant strides, reaching four finals and securing eight victories against top-ten ranked players.
These achievements underscored her growing ability to compete at the highest level and set the stage for an even more impressive 2019.
That year, her dominance was particularly evident in China, where she won three titles, including a successful title defense at the Wuhan Open and a victory at the WTA Elite Trophy.
These wins propelled her to finish both 2018 and 2019 ranked No. 11 in the world in singles, just shy of the coveted top 10.
A pivotal partnership with Elise Mertens in 2019 led to substantial success in doubles.
Together, they achieved the Sunshine Double by winning both the Indian Wells Open and the Miami Open, showcasing their compatibility and skill as a team.
The pinnacle of their doubles success came with a victory at the US Open in 2019, solidifying their status as a top doubles team.
This success continued into 2021 when they won the Australian Open doubles title, a victory that propelled Sabalenka to the world No. 1 ranking in doubles.
While her doubles career flourished, Sabalenka’s singles career continued to evolve. The year 2023 marked a turning point, highlighted by her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.
This victory not only cemented her place among the elite players in the world but also showcased her resilience and determination.
She reached the US Open final that same year, further demonstrating her consistent performance at major tournaments.
Her stellar performance in 2023 culminated in achieving the WTA World No.1 ranking after the US Open, a testament to her hard work and dedication.
In 2024, she continued her Grand Slam success by defending her title at the Australian Open and winning the US Open, reinforcing her position as one of the leading players in women’s tennis.
