Aryna Sabalenka, the reigning world No. 1 and three-time Grand Slam champion, has carved her own path to tennis stardom, but her journey was profoundly shaped by the towering legacies of Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova. In a heartfelt interview ahead of the 2025 Canadian Open, the 26-year-old Belarusian opened up about her childhood admiration for the two WTA icons, whose dominance defined an era and inspired her to dream big. “Growing up, I was like, ‘Wow, those girls are so cool,’” Sabalenka shared, her eyes lighting up as she recalled watching Williams and Sharapova battle for supremacy. Their fierce competitiveness and larger-than-life personas left an indelible mark, fueling her ambition to emulate their success on the sport’s biggest stages.
Sabalenka, who grew up in Minsk, Belarus, was captivated by Williams’s unparalleled power and charisma. With 23 Grand Slam titles, Williams was a force of nature, blending explosive athleticism with an unshakable will to win. “Serena was just this unstoppable energy, like a storm on the court,” Sabalenka said, reflecting on the American’s ability to redefine women’s tennis. As a young girl, Sabalenka would mimic Williams’s serve in her backyard, dreaming of one day commanding the same aura. “I wanted to hit the ball that hard, to have that presence,” she admitted, noting how Williams’s 2002-2003 “Serena Slam”—winning four consecutive majors—inspired her to set lofty goals. Sabalenka’s own power game, which produced 307 aces in 2024, echoes Williams’s aggressive style, a testament to the influence that began when she was just six, introduced to tennis by her late father, Sergey.
Equally compelling was Sharapova, whose five Grand Slam titles and fierce determination captivated Sabalenka. “Maria was so intense, so focused. I loved how she fought for every point,” she recalled, describing the Russian’s signature grit. Sharapova’s 2004 Wimbledon upset over Williams at age 17, followed by her battles through injury and a doping ban to win the 2012 French Open, resonated with Sabalenka’s own journey of overcoming adversity. “When I was struggling with my serve in 2022, I thought about Maria and how she came back stronger,” Sabalenka said, referencing her own battle with 428 double faults that year, which nearly drove her to retire. Sharapova’s ability to reinvent herself, particularly after shoulder surgery, inspired Sabalenka to work with a biomechanics coach, slashing her double faults to 2.92 per match by 2024 and paving the way for her 2023 and 2024 Australian Open titles and 2024 US Open victory.
Sabalenka’s admiration wasn’t just about their on-court prowess but their off-court impact. Williams’s trailblazing advocacy for equality and Sharapova’s business acumen as the founder of Sugarpova shaped Sabalenka’s view of what a tennis star could be. “They showed me you can be a champion and still have a voice, a brand,” she said, noting her own ventures into endorsements and her “Tiger” persona, complete with a tattoo reflecting her fierce spirit. Yet, she acknowledged the pressure of following in their footsteps. “It’s tough because they set such a high bar,” she told reporters, crediting their rivalries—Williams led Sharapova 20-2 in their head-to-head—for pushing the WTA to new heights.
The Belarusian’s rise to No. 1 in 2024, with a 54-11 record and three majors, mirrors the dominance she admired in her idols. Her 2025 season, despite a heartbreaking Australian Open final loss to Madison Keys, has seen her maintain a 32-7 record and reach the semifinals in Rome and Madrid. “I’m just trying to keep that fire they had,” she said, emphasizing her commitment to consistency, a hallmark of Williams and Sharapova’s careers. Sabalenka’s emotional resilience, forged through personal tragedies like the loss of her father in 2019 and ex-boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov in 2024, draws parallels to Sharapova’s comeback spirit and Williams’s ability to thrive under scrutiny.
As Sabalenka prepares for the Canadian Open, where she faces a tough field including Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina, her reflections on Williams and Sharapova underscore her drive to leave a lasting legacy. “They made me believe I could do this,” she said, her voice steady with determination. With the US Open on the horizon, where she aims to defend her 2024 title, Sabalenka’s journey from a starry-eyed kid to a WTA titan proves that the inspiration of her childhood heroes continues to propel her toward greatness.
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