Aryna Sabalenka, the reigning World No. 1 and a dominant force in women’s tennis, has long drawn inspiration from the WTA Tour’s most iconic figures, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova. In a candid interview ahead of the 2025 season, the Belarusian star shared her thoughts on the commanding presence of these two Grand Slam champions during her formative years, revealing how their relentless dominance shaped her own ambitions to rule the sport. Now 27, Sabalenka stands atop the WTA rankings with three Grand Slam titles, including the 2024 Australian Open and US Open, and her reflections offer a glimpse into the mindset of a player determined to carve her own legacy.
Growing up in Minsk, Belarus, Sabalenka was captivated by the aggressive, powerful styles of Williams and Sharapova, who together redefined women’s tennis in the 2000s and 2010s. “I loved the way they were dominating the tour,” Sabalenka told Cosmopolitan, her admiration evident as she recalled watching their matches as a young player. Williams, with her record-tying 23 Grand Slam singles titles, and Sharapova, a five-time major champion, were forces of nature on the court, each blending raw power with fierce competitive spirit. Sabalenka, known for her thunderous groundstrokes and relentless baseline game, saw echoes of her own style in their play. “I just like the style of her game, it was like mine on the court,” she once said of Williams, highlighting the American’s influence on her aggressive approach.
Despite her admiration, Sabalenka was quick to assert her individuality. “I wasn’t really crazy about someone, and there wasn’t someone who inspired me to be an athlete,” she explained. “I think it’s a good thing, because somehow I managed to be and stay in the moment and enjoy what I was doing at the time.” This mindset allowed her to forge her own path, even as she looked up to Williams and Sharapova. As a teenager, when a family friend compared her to Sharapova, a young Sabalenka bristled, declaring, “I’m a future Sabalenka, not a future Sharapova.” That fiery independence has defined her rise, from a Top 100 debut in 2017 to her current perch as the world’s top-ranked player.
Williams and Sharapova’s dominance was a masterclass in consistency and intensity. Williams spent 319 weeks as World No. 1, a record surpassed only by Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova, while Sharapova held the top spot for 21 weeks and completed a career Grand Slam with her 2012 French Open victory. Their head-to-head rivalry, though lopsided—Williams won 20 of their 22 encounters—was a spectacle that captivated the tennis world. Sabalenka, who faced Sharapova in her first WTA final at the 2017 Tianjin Open, experienced firsthand the Russian’s competitive aura, even as Sharapova’s career was winding down. Though she lost that match in two tight sets, the encounter fueled Sabalenka’s hunger to emulate the sustained excellence of her idols.
Sabalenka’s journey to the top mirrors the relentless ambition of her childhood heroes. Since claiming her first major at the 2023 Australian Open, she has added titles in 2024 at Melbourne and New York, reaching the semifinals or better at all four Grand Slams in a single season—a feat not accomplished since Williams in 2016. “I always wanted to dominate the tour like Serena did, like Iga was able to do for so long,” Sabalenka said, acknowledging the influence of both Williams and current rival Iga Swiatek. Her 2024 season, capped by a year-end No. 1 ranking, saw her amass 10,541 points, joining an elite group including Williams and Sharapova as the seventh woman to surpass 10,000 points in the WTA rankings since 2009.
The Belarusian’s admiration for Williams and Sharapova extends beyond their on-court exploits. Both players were cultural phenomena, blending athletic prowess with larger-than-life personalities. Williams reshaped tennis with her power and charisma, while Sharapova’s marketability made her the highest-paid female athlete for 11 consecutive years. Sabalenka, with her tiger tattoo and vibrant energy, has embraced a similar approach, praising the WTA’s efforts to highlight players’ personalities. “It’s a big move and I hope it’s going to help our sport to get better,” she said at a recent event, echoing the trailblazing impact of her idols.
As Sabalenka prepares to defend her US Open title in 2025, her reflections reveal a player driven by the same hunger that propelled Williams and Sharapova to greatness. “I think I have better understanding of my game, of my weapons and how to manage my emotions,” she noted, crediting her mental growth for her recent success. With 17 WTA singles titles and a net worth estimated at $18 million, Sabalenka is not just following in her idols’ footsteps but forging a path uniquely her own. Her ambition to “dominate the tour” like Williams and Sharapova underscores a career still on the rise, with the tennis world eagerly watching to see how far the “Tiger” will roar.
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