131 Facts About Aryna Sabalenka

Aryna Siarhiejeuna Sabalenka was born on 5 May 1998 and is a Belarusian professional tennis player.

Aryna Sabalenka is currently ranked as the world No 1 in women's singles by the Women's Tennis Association, and is a former world No 1 in women's doubles.

Aryna Sabalenka has won six doubles titles, including two majors at the 2019 US Open and 2021 Australian Open, both partnering with Elise Mertens.

Aryna Sabalenka came to prominence in 2017 when, together with Aliaksandra Sasnovich, they led the Belarus Fed Cup team to a runner-up finish despite both of them being ranked outside the top 75 at the time.

Aryna Sabalenka finished 2018 and 2019 ranked No 11 in the world in singles.

Aryna Sabalenka defended her Australian Open title and won the US Open the following year, clinching the year-end No 1 ranking.

Aryna Sabalenka has a very aggressive style of play, often accumulating high numbers of winners and unforced errors.

Aryna Sabalenka had a late start on the ITF Junior Circuit, instead competing on the U14 and U16 Tennis Europe tours at a younger age.

Aryna Sabalenka did not compete in the main draw of any ITF events until 2013 at the low-level Grade-4 Tallink Cup in Estonia at the age of 15.

Aryna Sabalenka never played in the junior Grand Slam tournaments or any other high-level Grade-A and Grade-1 events.

Aryna Sabalenka won her first ITF title in doubles at the lowest-level Grade-5 Alatan Tour Cup in Belarus in late 2013 with compatriot Vera Lapko as her partner.

Aryna Sabalenka only played in one tournament in 2015, the European Junior Championships.

Aryna Sabalenka lost in the second round to top seed Marketa Vondrousova.

Aryna Sabalenka began playing on the ITF Women's Circuit in 2012, even before she competed on the ITF Junior Circuit.

Aryna Sabalenka won her first professional match at the very end of 2014 in Istanbul.

Aryna Sabalenka won a $25k title the last week of the year.

Aryna Sabalenka won her two biggest titles to date at the $50k level.

Aryna Sabalenka followed up this achievement with another win at the Washington Open over No 34 Lauren Davis, the 2016 runner-up and the highest-ranked player she had defeated at the time.

Aryna Sabalenka reached two quarterfinals to begin the year, but lost her opening-round match at the Australian Open to top-ranked Australian and world No 18 Ashleigh Barty.

Aryna Sabalenka then won her first matches at a Premier tournament with a third-round appearance at the Indian Wells Open before the early-year hardcourt season came to a close, including a victory over No 19, Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Aryna Sabalenka began the clay-court season by reaching a second career final at the Ladies Open Lugano, where she finished runner-up to No 20 Elise Mertens.

Aryna Sabalenka had stronger results on grass, playing in tune-ups during each of the three weeks before Wimbledon.

Aryna Sabalenka made it to the quarterfinals at the Rosmalen Grass Court Championships and the final at the Premier level Eastbourne International.

Aryna Sabalenka lost the final to world No 2 Caroline Wozniacki.

Just a week later, Aryna Sabalenka won her first WTA Tour title at the Premier-level Connecticut Open with wins over world No 9, Julia Gorges, in the semifinal, and Carla Suarez Navarro in the final.

Aryna Sabalenka was the only player to win a set against Osaka in the tournament.

Aryna Sabalenka defeated Barty to open the group but lost to Garcia in the group's final match.

Aryna Sabalenka began the season by winning her third career WTA title at the Shenzhen Open, defeating Alison Riske in the final in a tight three-set match.

Aryna Sabalenka lost to 17-year-old Amanda Anisimova in straight sets at both the Australian Open and the French Open in the third and second rounds, respectively.

Aryna Sabalenka had been considered the third-leading favourite for the title at the Australian Open.

Aryna Sabalenka fared worse at Wimbledon, losing her opening match to No 139 Magdalena Rybarikova.

Aryna Sabalenka made the fourth round at the Indian Wells Open.

Aryna Sabalenka returned to China following the US Open, and produced three strong results in four events.

Aryna Sabalenka swept her round-robin group of Maria Sakkari and her doubles partner Elise Mertens.

Aryna Sabalenka did not have much success in the Grand Slam singles events, but she produced much better results in doubles.

Aryna Sabalenka continued her late-season surge by reaching the semifinals in Adelaide.

Aryna Sabalenka came back from a final set deficit against Hsieh Su-wei before sliding past Bernarda Pera and shocking second seed Simona Halep, whom she had never won a set against before, in straight sets.

Aryna Sabalenka then lost in straight sets to eventual runner-up Dayana Yastremska.

Aryna Sabalenka enjoyed moderate success in doubles, with Mertens reaching the quarterfinals before losing to the Chan sisters.

Aryna Sabalenka rebounded at the Qatar Open, reaching the final with wins over Anett Kontaveit, Maria Sakkari, Zheng Saisai and Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Aryna Sabalenka's results continued to disappoint as she seeded fifth and crashed out in the second round of Cincinnati and New York to Jessica Pegula and a resurgent Victoria Azarenka.

Aryna Sabalenka had moderate success in doubles, reaching the quarterfinals of both events.

Aryna Sabalenka then took the Linz title by beating Elise Mertens in the final.

Aryna Sabalenka entered 2021 on a nine-match winning streak and participated in her first tournament at the Abu Dhabi Open as the fourth seed.

Aryna Sabalenka beat Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinals, where she dropped her first set of the week before defeating Maria Sakkari in straight sets.

Aryna Sabalenka went into the Australian Open looking to make a Grand Slam singles quarterfinal for the first time in her career.

Aryna Sabalenka cruised through to the quarterfinals in the singles event, defeating 15th seed Anett Kontaveit along the way, before losing to Muguruza for the second time in as many weeks, again in three sets.

Aryna Sabalenka won the title at the Madrid Open, facing Ashleigh Barty in the championship match.

Aryna Sabalenka then lost her semifinal match against Karolina Pliskova in three sets.

Aryna Sabalenka became the third Belarusian woman to reach the last four of Wimbledon following Natasha Zvereva in 1998 and Victoria Azarenka in 2011 and 2012.

Aryna Sabalenka continued her season at the Canadian Open in Montreal.

Aryna Sabalenka reached the semifinals but lost to Karolina Pliskova, in straight sets.

Aryna Sabalenka then lost her opening-round match against Paula Badosa at the Cincinnati Open.

At the US Open, Aryna Sabalenka reached her second consecutive major semifinal following wins over Danielle Collins, Elise Mertens, and Barbora Krejcikova.

Aryna Sabalenka began her season at the 2022 Adelaide International 1 as the second seed.

Once again, Aryna Sabalenka struggled with her serve, recording 21 double faults for the match.

Aryna Sabalenka entered the Australian Open as the second seed.

Aryna Sabalenka's serving struggles continued, but she managed to dig out three-set wins against world No 128 Storm Sanders, No 100 Wang Xinyu, and No 41 Marketa Vondrousova to advance to the fourth round for the second time in her career.

Aryna Sabalenka faced off against giant-killer Kaia Kanepi, who had defeated the 16th seed Angelique Kerber in the first round.

Aryna Sabalenka managed to save four match points during the match, but served 15 double faults to Kanepi's four.

Aryna Sabalenka found her form, reaching the quarterfinals at the Qatar Open, beating Alize Cornet and Jil Teichmann, before losing to the eventual champion Iga Swiatek in the semifinals.

At the French Open, Aryna Sabalenka lost in the third round to Camila Giorgi in three sets.

Aryna Sabalenka began the grass-court season at the Libema Open as the top seed, where she made the final, losing to Ekaterina Alexandrova.

Aryna Sabalenka then entered the German Open as the third seed but lost in the first round to Veronika Kudermetova.

Aryna Sabalenka opened the US hardcourt swing in Silicon Valley Classic, losing to Daria Kasatkina in the quarterfinals.

Aryna Sabalenka then played the Canadian Open, losing to Coco Gauff in the third round.

Aryna Sabalenka then made her best run of the season at the US Open.

At the San Diego Open, Aryna Sabalenka defeated Sloane Stephens in three sets before losing to Donna Vekic in the quarterfinals.

Aryna Sabalenka became the fourth woman to defeat the top 3 players at the same tournament, joining Steffi Graf, Serena Williams, and Venus Williams.

Aryna Sabalenka reached her first final of the season by defeating Liudmila Samsonova, Marketa Vondrousova, Irina-Camelia Begu en route.

Aryna Sabalenka entered the Australian Open as the fifth seed and one of the title contenders.

Aryna Sabalenka then beat Donna Vekic to reach her fourth Grand Slam semifinal, and won her tenth consecutive match by beating Magda Linette in the semifinal to make her first ever major final.

Aryna Sabalenka became the second Belarusian to ever win a major singles title, and the first since Victoria Azarenka a decade earlier.

In Dubai, Aryna Sabalenka defeated Lauren Davis and Jelena Ostapenko to reach the quarterfinals, where she fell to the eventual champion Barbora Krejcikova in three sets.

Aryna Sabalenka then participated in Indian Wells, where she defeated Evgeniya Rodina and took revenge on Krejcikova for her last defeat in three sets.

In Miami, Aryna Sabalenka defeated Shelby Rogers, Marie Bouzkova, and Krejcikova each in straight sets to reach the quarterfinals, where she was defeated by Sorana Cirstea.

Aryna Sabalenka started her clay court season in Stuttgart, where she defeated Krejcikova, Paula Badosa, and Anastasia Potapova to reach her fourth final of the year.

In Rome, Aryna Sabalenka suffered her first early defeat of the year, losing in straight sets to former Grand Slam champion Sofia Kenin.

Aryna Sabalenka began her grass court season in Berlin, defeating Vera Zvonareva before losing to Veronika Kudermetova.

Aryna Sabalenka next competed at Wimbledon, where she reached her fourth straight major semifinal.

Aryna Sabalenka defeated Panna Udvardy, Varvara Gracheva, Anna Blinkova, Ekaterina Alexandrova, and Madison Keys, before losing to Ons Jabeur, despite leading by a set and a break.

Aryna Sabalenka next reached the semifinals in Cincinnati, defeating Ann Li, Daria Kasatkina, and Ons Jabeur, before falling in three sets to Karolina Muchova.

At the US Open, Sabalenka reached the semifinals by defeating Maryna Zanevska, Jodie Burrage, Clara Burel, Daria Kasatkina, and Zheng Qinwen in straight sets, dropping just 21 games in all five matches.

Aryna Sabalenka faced Madison Keys in the semifinals, recovering from a set and break deficit and serving to stay in the match four times in the final two sets.

Aryna Sabalenka became the 29th player to be ranked No 1 in the world on the WTA Tour, and the second Belarusian, after Victoria Azarenka.

Aryna Sabalenka was just the eighth female player to have been ranked No 1 in the Open Era in both singles and doubles at some point in their careers.

Aryna Sabalenka then lost in the semifinals to Swiatek, who would go on to win the event.

Aryna Sabalenka won the Australian Open without losing a set and became the first woman to defend her title there since Victoria Azarenka in 2013.

Aryna Sabalenka defeated 12th seed Zheng Qinwen in the final, having overcome Ella Seidel, Brenda Fruhvirtova, 28th seed Lesia Tsurenko, Amanda Anisimova, ninth seed Barbora Krejcikova and fourth seed Coco Gauff in the earlier rounds.

Aryna Sabalenka reached the quarterfinals at Stuttgart, where she was eliminated by Marketa Vondrousova.

Aryna Sabalenka had three championship points during the match, but eventually lost.

Aryna Sabalenka entered the French Open as the second seed, and defeated Erika Andreeva, Moyuka Uchijima, Paula Badosa and 22nd seed Emma Navarro in straight sets.

Aryna Sabalenka suffered a right shoulder injury that forced her to retire during her quarterfinal match against Anna Kalinskaya at the Berlin Ladies Open in June and she withdrew from the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, having failed to recover in time to play.

Aryna Sabalenka continued her great form at the China Open in Beijing, where she defeated Mananchaya Sawangkaew, Ashlyn Krueger and Madison Keys all in straight sets to increase her winning streak to 15 matches.

Aryna Sabalenka lost in the quarterfinals to Karolina Muchova in three sets.

At the Wuhan Open, where she won back-to-back in 2018 and 2019, before the tournament was suspended due to COVID-19 from 2020 until 2023, Aryna Sabalenka defeated Katerina Siniakova in straight sets in her opening match.

Aryna Sabalenka faced fourth seed Coco Gauff in the semifinals, mounting a comeback from a set and a break down to the reach final for the third time.

Aryna Sabalenka lost her last group match to Elena Rybakina and was defeated by Gauff in the semifinals.

Aryna Sabalenka started 2025 by winning the Brisbane International, defeating Renata Zarazua, Yulia Putintseva, Marie Bouzkova, and Mirra Andreeva to reach the final, where she came back from a set down against Polina Kudermetova to claim the 18th singles title of her career.

Aryna Sabalenka kick-started her quest for a three-peat at the Australian Open by defeating former world No 3, Sloane Stephens, in straight sets in the first round.

Aryna Sabalenka then continued her journey at the Australian Open by defeating Mirra Andreeva, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, and Paula Badosa to advance to the final for the third time in a row.

Aryna Sabalenka then came to play at Qatar Open in Doha, but she lost to Ekaterina Alexandrova in three in the first round.

However, in the match against Tauson, Aryna Sabalenka lost in straight sets.

Aryna Sabalenka defeated Tomova in straight set to advance to the third round.

Aryna Sabalenka defeated Collins in straight set to advance to the quarerfinal.

Aryna Sabalenka faced Jasmine Paolini in the seimifinal, and she defeated Paolini in straight set to advance to the final, where she would take on Jessica Pegula.

Aryna Sabalenka defeated Pegula in straight set to claimed her first WTA Miami Open title.

Aryna Sabalenka represented Belarus at the Junior Fed Cup in 2014, with the team finishing in sixth place.

Aryna Sabalenka then made her senior Fed Cup debut for Belarus in April 2016, losing a dead rubber doubles match against Russia.

Aryna Sabalenka then clinched both ties, with wins over Michaella Krajicek and No 54 Viktorija Golubic, respectively.

Aryna Sabalenka was only ranked No 125 at the time of the semifinal, with no career tour match wins outside of Fed Cup.

The next day began with Aryna Sabalenka losing to Vandeweghe, before Sasnovich again levelled the tie by defeating Stephens.

Aryna Sabalenka has a powerful serve, and equally powerful groundstrokes, and her game is based around taking control of points and hitting winners.

Aryna Sabalenka's serve is inconsistent leading to a high double fault count; she served 166 double faults in 2020, the most of any player.

Aryna Sabalenka notably suffered from the yips from the 2021 WTA Finals and into 2022, serving 152 double faults in 11 matches, an average of 14 double faults a match.

Aryna Sabalenka's second serve began to show improvements from August 2022, having worked with a biomechanics expert following the 2022 Canadian Open.

Aryna Sabalenka's groundstrokes are often hit with relentless pace and depth.

Aryna Sabalenka won her first clay court title at the 2021 Madrid Open.

Aryna Sabalenka had worked with Khalil Ibrahimov for two years up until early 2018.

Aryna Sabalenka briefly worked with Dieter Kindlmann before switching coaches to her longtime hitting partner and compatriot Anton Dubrov, aged 25 at the time.

Aryna Sabalenka has been endorsed by Nike for apparel and shoes since the beginning of her professional career.

Nike began to design custom garments for Aryna Sabalenka starting from the 2023 US Open.

Aryna Sabalenka is endorsed by Wilson, specifically using the Wilson Blade range of racquets.

Aryna Sabalenka has a tiger tattoo on her left arm that has earned her the nickname "The Tiger", which she has used to refer to herself.

Aryna Sabalenka studied at the Belarusian State University in a sports-related program.

Aryna Sabalenka later confirmed the couple were separated at the time of his death.

Aryna Sabalenka separately praised the Belarusian government for "everything that is done for the country in general and for sports in particular".

In 2020, during widespread protests after the disputed election, Aryna Sabalenka signed an open letter that said that sport should remain outside of politics.

Aryna Sabalenka appears in the tennis docuseries Break Point, which premiered on Netflix on 13 January 2023.

Aryna Sabalenka has developed several notable rivalries during her career on the WTA Tour.

Aryna Sabalenka later defeated her in a rematch at the 2024 Australian Open.