Aryna Sabalenka's Unwavering Core: How She Stays Grounded as World Number One
It's a question many ponder: what happens to an athlete when they reach the pinnacle of their sport? Does the pressure of being the best change who they are? For Aryna Sabalenka, the answer, according to those closest to her, is a resounding no.
Paula Badosa, a close friend and fellow tennis star, recently shared a heartwarming observation about Sabalenka during the Australian Open. She noted that despite her friend's ascent to the world number one ranking for the first time in 2023, Sabalenka remains the same person she befriended long before the accolades. "It doesn't matter if she's number one or number 20, or whatever," Badosa remarked. "I appreciate that she didn't change, because you never know sometimes."
This sentiment is echoed by Sabalenka herself. Having finished the past two years at the top and set to hold the world number one ranking for an impressive 75 weeks by the end of the Australian Open, she attributes her stability to simply being authentic. "It's just me being me," Sabalenka shared after reaching the Australian Open quarterfinals. "I'm not trying to do anything. There's so many great players, great people. I feel comfortable. I'm just being me, you know? I knew that I will never change. It doesn't matter my ranking position. Whatever I reach in life, I'll always be myself."
But here's where it gets fascinating: This steadfast personal approach seems to be mirroring her on-court performance. Sabalenka's consistency at Grand Slam tournaments is nothing short of remarkable. Her recent victory over 17th-seeded Victoria Mboko marked her 13th consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance. This incredible run includes her two Australian Open titles in 2023 and 2024, and a runner-up finish last year. She's also reached the final in four of the last five majors!
Her current form at Melbourne Park suggests a fourth straight trip to the tournament final is a very real possibility. She's yet to drop a set and showed incredible composure in her match against the promising 19-year-old Mboko. Despite facing a couple of service breaks in the second set, Sabalenka remained focused, playing "point by point" to secure the win. "I knew she's [Mboko] going to be fighting," Sabalenka explained. "I knew she's going to be trying. She kind of like has nothing to lose. She showed incredible tennis in those moments when she broke my serve. But I was just focusing, staying in the moment, playing point by point, and trying to get this win."
And this is the part most people miss: While Sabalenka is preparing to face the unseeded 18-year-old Iva Jović in the quarterfinals – a player who has just achieved her best Grand Slam result by reaching the last eight – the focus remains on Sabalenka's ability to maintain her composure under pressure. Jović herself had a dominant win, but will she be able to replicate that against the seasoned world number one?
What do you think? Is it truly possible to reach the pinnacle of a sport and remain completely unchanged? Or is there an inherent evolution that happens, even if subtle? Share your thoughts in the comments below – do you agree with Badosa and Sabalenka's perspective, or do you believe that reaching world number one must bring about some level of personal transformation?
