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 story of Aryna Sabalenka’s journey to becoming the world No. 1 tennis player. Let’s break it down step by step and see what made this Belarusian star’s path to the top so remarkable.
The Road to the Top
Aryna Sabalenka has had an incredible year, culminating in her securing the world No. 1 ranking at the WTA Finals. Coming into the season-ending tournament, she had a significant lead over Iga Swiatek, with 1,046 ranking points. This made it highly likely that she would clinch the top spot unless something unexpected happened. 
The Mental Challenge
Despite having everything in her favor, Sabalenka admitted that she wasn’t really focused on the No. 1 ranking. In fact, she jokingly told Andy Roddick on his podcast that she didn’t want to know what she needed to do to finish the year as world number one. This carefree attitude initially worked well for her as she won her first two matches at the WTA Finals. However, the media attention and constant reminders of her lead began to distract her.
“I wasn’t really focused on the No. 1 ranking, and what I should do to finish the year as world number one. I didn’t do that, I was like, whatever. They asked me, do you know what you have to do to finish the year as world number one? I was like no and don’t tell me, please. I don’t want to know that I just wanted to focus on my tennis and just stay focused.” – Aryna Sabalenka
The Unexpected Setbacks
After winning her initial matches, Sabalenka lost to Coco Gauff and then Elena Rybakina in the Round Robin stage and semifinals respectively. These losses were surprising given her outstanding form leading up to these matches. Speaking after her loss to Rybakina, Sabalenka admitted that she wasn’t motivated because she knew she had nothing to play for in terms of securing the world No. 1 spot.
“Well, honestly, this is something I have to learn. How to keep myself motivated and hungry and being 100% on in this kind of matches when you know that you’re already in the semis and the only motivation for you is points and money. But that was tricky,” she said post-match. 
Overcoming Doubts
From early in her career, Sabalenka faced criticism for being one-dimensional due to her powerful hitting style. However, she has proven her doubters wrong by winning three Majors since the start of 2023 and becoming the world No. 1 for the first time in her career.
“I came on tour as the hard-hitter and I’ve been told, I don’t know for most time of my career that I’m not talented and I only can hit balls and I’m good at the baseline probably and I have to work on that consistency and I’m a big server and that’s it. I was just a hard worker, I could stay the whole day in court and keep working, keep trying to find the right shot and the right technique for me. Then we started working with my with my coach who’s actually quite young but I saw this vision of me that I can actually be, not only an aggressive player but I can defend, I can use the slice. I would say finally things started working together,” Sabalenka told Roddick.
Looking Ahead
The 2024 season is officially finished for Sabalenka, but she’s already looking forward to her next tournament—the United Cup at the start of the new season. This event promises exciting matches as top players from around the world come together in a unique format.
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Yours truly,
Mia