Hey there, fellow tennis enthusiasts It’s your girl Mia Johnson-Carter here, living the dream in Miami. Today, we’re diving into the fascinating world of emotions in tennis, particularly focusing on Aryna Sabalenka’s incredible journey to becoming the new queen of women’s tennis.
Emotions are crucial in everyday life and sports, and for Aryna Sabalenka, they have been pivotal in her success. In a recent podcast with former American tennis player Andy Roddick, Sabalenka discussed how she has managed her emotions to achieve three Major wins and top the WTA rankings.
Sabalenka emphasized that she doesn’t suppress her emotions; instead, she learns to manage them positively. “We talked with the team and that’s why sometimes you see those funny videos of me yelling at my team, throwing the racket at the US Open,” she explained. “I was trying to pass the racket to my coach, but that’s it.” This candid admission shows that even top players like Sabalenka experience emotional moments, which she believes are essential for her mental toughness.
Sabalenka’s approach to emotions stands in contrast to what many might expect from a top player. She believes that calmness does not necessarily demonstrate mental toughness. For some players, keeping emotions in check works well, but for others, like Sabalenka, expressing emotions is key. “Calmness does not demonstrate mental toughness,” she analyzed. “For some people it works. It’s not like there’s only one way. Some people are just made that way.”
Sabalenka has taken the WTA ranking throne by overtaking Polish player Iga Świątek in recent weeks. She revealed her feelings about being number one and set goals for herself in an interview with Arab News. Being a leader is challenging, but she believes it’s a great opportunity to help the sport and fight for equal prize money between circuits.
“It is a responsibility and the truth is that I like it,” she said with great honesty. “I like representing women’s sport, showing that we are strong and powerful, that we can fight for our rights.” This commitment reflects her admiration for previous great players like Serena Williams and Iga Świątek, who have dominated the tour for weeks.
However, despite her success, Sabalenka’s season came to an end with a loss to Coco Gauff at the WTA Finals in Riyadh. The Belarusian committed an incredible number of errors (47) and struggled with her serve, allowing Gauff to take control of the match.
Despite this setback, Sabalenka’s journey is an inspiration to many young players. Her openness about managing emotions and her dedication to improving every day are lessons we can all learn from.
If you want to know more about Aryna Sabalenka’s emotional journey and her candid interviews, check out the news where I found it here.
Yours truly,
Mia
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