Aryna Sabalenka, the world’s No. 1 women’s tennis player and three-time Grand Slam champion, is no stranger to power-packed performances on the court. Her thunderous forehand, clocked at an average speed of 129 kph during the 2024 US Open, outpaces even some of the ATP’s biggest hitters like Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. Yet, in a revealing moment during a press conference following her third Madrid Open title win on May 3, 2025, Sabalenka shared a story that left fans buzzing: a practice session with Russian star Andrey Rublev that was so intense, she wanted to quit after just five minutes. Her candid recounting of the experience offers a glimpse into the relentless intensity of top-level tennis and her own self-deprecating humor.
Fresh off a commanding 6-3, 7-6 victory over Coco Gauff in the Madrid final, Sabalenka was asked if she’d ever faced anyone who hit the ball harder than she does. The Belarusian paused, then laughed, reflecting on her practice encounters with male players. “I mean, maybe when I was practicing with the guys,” she said, her eyes lighting up with the memory. “I practiced with Rublev, it was really intense. I was like, okay, whatever, I’m done. I was done in five minutes.” The comment, delivered with her signature blend of confidence and levity, sparked chuckles in the room but also ignited debate among fans, particularly when Sabalenka didn’t mention any WTA rivals in her response, drawing some criticism online for seemingly overlooking her peers.
The practice session in question, believed to have occurred during a 2022 training block, pitted Sabalenka’s explosive game against Rublev’s relentless baseline aggression. Rublev, the world No. 17 known for his ferocious forehand and emotional intensity, brought a level of power that overwhelmed even Sabalenka, whose own hitting is a benchmark of force on the WTA Tour. “It felt kind of uncomfortable being at the top and even hitting harder than guys,” she had previously said about her US Open forehand stats, revealing a mix of pride and awkwardness about her strength. Yet, Rublev’s sheer pace and depth pushed her to the brink, exposing the gap between WTA and ATP physicality in a way that was both humbling and eye-opening. “It was really intense,” she reiterated, underscoring how the brief session left her gasping and ready to throw in the towel.
This wasn’t the first time Sabalenka and Rublev crossed paths in a practice setting. The two, who share a friendly rapport, featured together in a 2021 episode of Tennis United: Crosscourt, discussing match-day mentality and locker-room dynamics. “All of us are humans, of course, we are nervous and we are tight,” Rublev had said, a sentiment Sabalenka echoed as they bonded over handling pressure. Their camaraderie likely set the stage for the ill-fated practice, where Sabalenka, expecting a challenging but manageable hit, found herself outgunned. The experience, though fleeting, left a lasting impression, becoming a humorous anecdote she now shares with a grin.
Sabalenka’s Madrid triumph, her second title of 2025 after the Brisbane International, cements her as the WTA’s dominant force. Her undefeated record against top-10 players this year and a historic three-peat in Madrid finals highlight her consistency. Yet, her Rublev story humanizes her, revealing a player who, despite her fearsome reputation, can be rattled by a practice session gone awry. As she prepares for the Italian Open, where she’s a favorite after last year’s runner-up finish, Sabalenka carries the lessons from that five-minute meltdown—resilience, humility, and a knack for finding humor in defeat. For fans, it’s a reminder that even the hardest hitters can be pushed to their limits, especially when facing a fireball like Rublev on the other side of the net.
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