Aryna Sabalenka, the world’s top-ranked women’s tennis player, has faced a rollercoaster of emotions in 2025, marked by three agonizing Grand Slam defeats that have tested her resilience. The Belarusian powerhouse, known for her thunderous serve and relentless baseline aggression, opened up about the mental struggles that plagued her in these high-stakes matches. As she prepares for the US Open, where she triumphed in 2024, Sabalenka’s raw honesty about her lack of self-belief offers a glimpse into the psyche of a champion determined to reclaim her dominance. With a 17-3 record in majors this year and a burning desire for redemption, Sabalenka’s journey is one of grit, vulnerability, and unwavering ambition.
The year began with Sabalenka chasing a historic three-peat at the Australian Open, where she had won back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024. Entering the final as the favorite, she faced American Madison Keys in a thrilling contest. Despite a strong start, Sabalenka faltered in the decisive moments, falling 6-3, 2-6, 7-5. The loss snapped her 20-match winning streak at Melbourne Park, leaving her visibly shaken. “I have to constantly remind myself how strong I am and be the brave one,” Sabalenka admitted, reflecting on how self-doubt crept in during critical points. The defeat stung, but it was only the beginning of a challenging Grand Slam campaign.
Four months later, Sabalenka reached her first French Open final, a milestone that showcased her evolution into an all-court player. Facing Coco Gauff, a fierce rival with whom she shares a 6-5 head-to-head record, Sabalenka started strongly, winning the first set in a tiebreak. But Gauff’s relentless defense and composure in windy conditions unraveled Sabalenka’s game. The Belarusian racked up 70 unforced errors, leading to a 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 defeat. “It was honestly the worst tennis I’ve played in I don’t know how many months,” a tearful Sabalenka confessed, lamenting her inability to stay calm under pressure. She criticized her own performance harshly, noting, “I cannot go out there every time against her in the finals of the Grand Slam and play such terrible tennis.” Her frustration was palpable, especially after a semifinal victory over Iga Świątek, which had raised hopes of a maiden Roland Garros title.
Wimbledon brought another opportunity for Sabalenka to claim a fourth Grand Slam singles title. Her powerful game, ideally suited to grass, carried her to the semifinals, where she faced Amanda Anisimova. In a tightly contested match, Sabalenka led by a break in the third set but faltered, losing 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. “Sometimes I was just stopping my arms, making mistakes which I shouldn’t be making,” she said, acknowledging Anisimova’s bravery in seizing the moment. Unlike her post-French Open outburst, where she controversially downplayed Gauff’s victory, Sabalenka showed growth in her Wimbledon press conference. “You’re not going to see the Roland Garros press conference, so anyone who was waiting for that can leave right now!” she quipped, demonstrating a lighter touch despite the pain of defeat. She admitted, “I think I should have been a little bit more brave today and remember that I’m on the top of the ranking, and I can do that.”
Sabalenka’s 2025 season has been a paradox of brilliance and heartbreak. With 51 wins, three titles—including Brisbane, Madrid, and Miami—and a commanding 3,741-point lead in the WTA rankings, she remains the tour’s most formidable force. Yet, the Grand Slam stage has exposed vulnerabilities. “It seems like in all of those three tough defeats in the Slams, I wasn’t trusting myself,” she explained, pinpointing a lack of confidence as the common thread in her losses. Her emotional transparency, from slamming her racket in frustration to joking about needing a Mykonos vacation with “tequila, gummy bears, and swimming,” reveals a player grappling with the weight of expectations while striving to grow.
As the US Open looms, Sabalenka is determined to channel these lessons into a triumphant return. Her 2024 victory over Jessica Pegula at Flushing Meadows, where she overcame a 2-0 deficit to win 7-5, 7-5, serves as a reminder of her resilience. “There’s US Open left… I have to trust myself & go for it,” she declared, signaling her intent to harness her aggressive style and powerful serve, which reached speeds of 124 mph in 2023. With a favorable hard-court record and a renewed focus on mental fortitude, Sabalenka is poised to turn her 2025 Grand Slam narrative from one of heartbreak to one of redemption.
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