Aryna Sabalenka Reflects on Resilience and Dreams in Harper’s Bazaar Australia

Two-time Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka graces the January 2025 cover of Harper’s Bazaar Australia, reflecting on her journey from struggling with double faults to becoming the world No. 1. In an exclusive interview with Tracey Holmes, Sabalenka opens up about the sacrifices, resilience, and life lessons that have shaped her career and personal growth.

“It took me a lot to get where I am right now, and I’ve had to make a lot of sacrifices,” Sabalenka said. “It has definitely taken a lot of hard work, and it’s a long process. It’s not something that happens just by one click.” The Belarusian tennis star, who finished 2024 as the top-ranked player, recalled a pivotal moment two to three years ago when she considered quitting due to persistent double faults and setbacks. “I was thinking to myself, ‘OK, it’s time for me to give up and to quit … it’s time for me to retire.’ But then I realized I have so much love for the sport and there are so many things behind the scenes that I just couldn’t give up,” she shared.

Sabalenka’s resilience paid off as she claimed her third Grand Slam title at the 2024 US Open, solidifying her status as one of the sport’s elite players. Her journey, however, has not been without challenges. Earlier in the year, she faced personal tragedy with the apparent suicide of her ex-partner, Konstantin Koltsov, and battled injuries that forced her to miss Wimbledon and the Olympics. Despite these hurdles, Sabalenka emphasized the importance of mental strength and balance. “You have to keep reminding yourself that you’re strong enough. You do not necessarily have to be tough on yourself, but you have to understand that whatever you’re going through, you just have to go through it,” she said.

Off the court, Sabalenka aspires to inspire others. “My dream is to inspire people, to be a fighter and to be an example of not giving up and going through whatever life throws at me,” she explained. “If someone can look at me and think, ‘She did it, and she was strong, and I just have to do the same and I can go through it,’ I’ll be really happy.”

Sabalenka also addressed the intersection of sports and politics, particularly the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian players from Wimbledon in 2022. “It is really sad to see that sports are involved in politics in many ways, because I feel like sport was created to avoid some of the more difficult times,” she said. “I really hope that we’re not going to face it again.”

As she prepares to defend her Australian Open title, Sabalenka remains grounded, cherishing her family and the lessons learned from her late father, Sergey, who introduced her to tennis. “Time flies and you never know what’s gonna happen tomorrow,” she said. “It’s really important to be close to your family and to spend more time with them, because life is crazy, and you have to appreciate what you have.”

Sabalenka’s full interview is available in the January 2025 issue of Harper’s Bazaar Australia, offering an intimate look at the life and mindset of one of tennis’s most formidable champions.