Aryna Sabalenka is one of the most successful and dominant tennis players in the world. She has achieved the rare feat of being ranked No. 1 in both singles and doubles by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).
She has also won three major titles, one in singles and two in doubles, and has reached the semifinals or better at all four major tournaments in 2023.
She is known for her strong and aggressive playing style and her charismatic and passionate personality on and off the court.
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- Full name: Aryna Siarhiejeŭna Sabalenka
- Nickname: Aryna the Lioness
- Date of birth: May 5, 1998
- Age: 25 years old
- Gender: Female
- Place of birth: Minsk, Belarus
- Nationality: Belarus
- Occupation: Professional tennis player
- Height: 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
- Parents: Sergey Sabalenka (father), Maryna Sabalenka (mother)
- Siblings: None
- Partner: Matvei Bozhko
- Boyfriend: Konstantin Koltsov
- Children: None
- Relationship Status: Dating
- Net worth: $15 million
Early life and education
Aryna Sabalenka, now 25, was born on May 5, 1998, in Minsk, the capital of Belarus. Her father, Sergey, was an ice hockey player who introduced her to tennis when she was 6 years old.
He saw a tennis court on the way and decided to try it out with his daughter. Aryna liked and enjoyed the tennis court, and that’s how her tennis journey began. Her mother, Maryna, was a housewife who supported her daughter’s passion for the sport.
Sabalenka attended a sports school in Minsk, where she trained under her first coach, Nikolai Kozlov.
She also studied at the Belarusian State University of Physical Education and Sports, majoring in sports management. She made her International Tennis Federation (ITF) debut in 2013 at the age of 15. She won her first ITF title in 2015 and her first WTA title in 2017.
Personal life
Sabalenka is dating Matvei Bozhko, a professional hockey player from Belarus. They met in 2019 while they were both training at the same sports complex in Minsk. She also dated the late Konstantin Koltsov.
They have had a long-distance relationship since then, as Sabalenka travels the world to pursue her tennis career. At the same time, Bozhko plays for HC Dinamo Minsk in the Continental Hockey League (KHL).
They have a good relationship and try to keep it private, although they often post pictures on social media. Sabalenka said Bozhko is her biggest supporter and cheerleader.
Sabalenka is also very close to her parents, who have been her biggest fans and inspirations since she was a child. She has said that her father taught her to be strong and confident, while her mother taught her to be kind and humble.
She often dedicates her victories to them and thanks them for their sacrifice and encouragement. She also has a tiger tattoo on her left arm, symbolizing her courage and determination.
Sabalenka is fluent in Belarusian, Russian and English. She enjoys listening to music, watching movies and reading books in her spare time.
She also enjoys playing with her pet dog, a Maltese named Princess. She loves the Harry Potter series and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She is also interested in fashion and has collaborated with several brands and magazines.
Career
Sabalenka has had a remarkable career in both singles and doubles. She has won 19 career titles, 13 in singles and six in doubles. She is also ranked No. 1 in the world by the WTA in both events.
Sabalenka rose to prominence in 2017 when she led the Belarus Fed Cup team to a runner-up finish alongside Aliaksandra Sasnovich despite being ranked outside the top 75.
She also won her first WTA title at the Tianjin Open, defeating Maria Sharapova in the semifinals and Sara Errani in the final.
She finished 2018 and 2019 ranked world number 11 in singles after winning four titles each year, including two Premier 5 titles at the Wuhan Open and Qatar Open.
Sabalenka also began playing doubles regularly in 2019, with Elise Mertens as her partner. They completed the Sunshine Doubles by winning two Premier Mandatory tournaments in March, the Indian Wells Open and the Miami Open.
After winning the US Open doubles title at the end of the year, she also qualified for the WTA Finals for the first time. She finished the year ranked No. 2 in doubles.
In 2020, Sabalenka won two more singles titles at the Ostrava Open and the Linz Open and another doubles title at the Australian Open, where she and Mertens defeated Hsieh Su-wei and Barbora Strýcová in the final. She also reached the quarterfinals at the US Open in singles, her best performance at a major tournament to that point.
In 2021, Sabalenka continued her winning streak in singles by winning three consecutive titles at the Abu Dhabi Open, the Yarra Valley Classic and the Madrid Open.
She also reached the semifinals of Wimbledon and the US Open, losing to Ashleigh Barty and Emma Raducanu. She finished the year ranked No. 2 in singles and No. 1 in doubles.
In 2023, Sabalenka achieved her breakthrough in singles when she won her first major title at the Australian Open after defeating Naomi Osaka in the final.
She also reached the semifinals at all four major tournaments, becoming the first woman to do so since Serena Williams in 2015. She also finished runner-up at the US Open, losing to Leylah Fernandez in a dramatic three-set match.
After defending her title in Doha, she reached the world No. 1 ranking in singles in February. She also won two more singles titles at the Dubai Tennis Championships and the China Open and another doubles title at the Miami Open.
She has qualified for the WTA Finals in singles and doubles and is considered the favorite to win both events.
Net worth
Sabalenka has an estimated net worth of $15 million. She earns the majority of her income from prize money, endorsement deals, and sponsorships.
She has won over $25 million in prize money, becoming one of the highest-paid female tennis players in history.
Argumentative
Sabalenka has faced some controversy during her career, largely due to her outspoken and emotional nature. She has been criticised for her loud growling on court, which some opponents and fans find annoying and distracting.
She was also accused of disrespect and lack of sportsmanship by smashing her racket, arguing with the umpire or celebrating excessively.
She has also been involved in heated arguments with other players, such as Caroline Wozniacki, Elina Svitolina and Coco Gauff.
Sabalenka has defended herself against these criticisms, saying that she moans because it helps her release energy and focus on her game, and does not mean to offend anyone.
She also said that she is passionate, competitive and expresses her emotions honestly and openly, but she always respects her opponents and the rules of the game.
She has also apologized for any mistakes or misunderstandings she may have made and has tried to learn from them and improve herself.
Social media
- Instagram name: @sabalenka_aryna
- Twitter Username: @SabalenkaA
