Aryna Sabalenka, the reigning WTA world No. 1 and three-time Grand Slam champion, has long been celebrated for her explosive power and relentless drive on the tennis court. Yet, her journey to the pinnacle of women’s tennis was not without turbulence, as revealed by her former coach Dmitry Tursunov in a candid reflection on their time together. Tursunov, who guided Sabalenka during her formative years from 2018 to 2019, opened up about the challenges of coaching the young Belarusian, admitting that her behavior at times tested their relationship. “Aryna, due to her young age and ease, sometimes behaved incorrectly. Not on purpose, but some things offended me,” he said, shedding light on the emotional intensity that marked their partnership.
Tursunov joined Sabalenka’s team during the 2018 grass-court season, a pivotal moment when the then-20-year-old was beginning to make waves on the WTA Tour. Rising from No. 73 to No. 11 by year’s end, Sabalenka showcased her raw talent with a runner-up finish at the 2018 Eastbourne International and her first WTA 1000 title at the Wuhan Open. However, Tursunov recalled a particularly heated moment before her Eastbourne final against Caroline Wozniacki. The day prior, Sabalenka played doubles with Hsieh Su-wei, where Tursunov felt she was “clearly messing around” on court. Frustrated, he confronted her sharply: “You’re doing bullshit! Laughing, having fun on the court. This is disrespectful—to your partner, your opponents, and yourself. Why waste time? You don’t strive to win, and you’re not preparing for tomorrow’s singles final.” The outburst led to a significant clash, with Sabalenka, upset by his reaction, complaining to her sponsor and even pushing to have him fired. “She went out to dinner with a sparring partner. In her eyes, he was a good cop, and I was an evil one,” Tursunov recounted.
Their collaboration, spanning roughly 18 months, was a rollercoaster of highs and lows. Sabalenka’s fiery personality, now a hallmark of her on-court intensity, often spilled over into their professional dynamic. “She is explosive, sometimes she freaks out, blurts out something—then apologizes,” Tursunov noted, acknowledging her youth as a factor in their conflicts. Despite their eventual split in August 2019, followed by a brief reunion later that year, Tursunov’s influence helped lay the groundwork for Sabalenka’s ascent. Under his guidance, she secured titles in New Haven, Wuhan, and Shenzhen, and reached the fourth round at Wimbledon and the Cincinnati Open semifinals in 2018. “I gave my all, sacrificed everything for the result,” Tursunov said, reflecting on the emotional toll of their partnership.
Sabalenka’s early struggles with discipline were compounded by harsh criticism from previous coaches, who, as she revealed after her 2025 French Open third-round win, questioned her intelligence and potential. “I have heard I’m not smart enough, that I’m stupid and I’ll never make it,” she said, laughing off the naysayers while urging them to “quit their job” to spare other players. These experiences shaped her resilience, leading her to form a supportive team with coach Anton Dubrov, fitness trainer Jason Stacy, and hitting partner Andrei Vasilevski. Under Dubrov since 2020, Sabalenka has won 14 of her 20 career singles titles, including the 2023 and 2024 Australian Opens and the 2024 US Open, cementing her as a dominant force.
Despite her 2025 setbacks—losses to Madison Keys at the Australian Open, Coco Gauff at the French Open, and Amanda Anisimova at Wimbledon—Sabalenka’s mental growth has been evident. Her ability to rebound from a shoulder injury and personal tragedy, including the loss of her ex-boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov in 2024, underscores her strength. “Crazy, isn’t it? There must be something wrong with me,” she quipped about her tumultuous 2024, highlighting her ability to find positivity amid adversity. As she prepares for the US Open, where she is the defending champion, Sabalenka’s journey from a fiery, sometimes wayward talent to a polished world No. 1 reflects her determination to overcome early challenges and prove her detractors wrong.
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