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via Reuters

via Reuters

Playing in front of a huge crowd and when the whole world is watching can be stressful for athletes. The same happened with Aryna Sabalenka when she got her first win against Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk at Roland Garros. The reaction she received from other players at the tournament as well as their fans has not been good for her mental health. Marta refused to shake hands with Sabalenka which called for a lot of boos from the crowd.

Placed at no. 1 by the Women’s Tennis Association, Aryna has previously mentioned how she has faced a locker room situation with many athletes. The 25-year-old has faced hate for no reason and decided to not be a part of the post-conference after her recent win at the French Open.  Instead, she tried to focus on things that make her happy.

Aryna Sabalenka shares her ways of dealing mental pressure

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Being judged by a whole bunch of people who know nothing about your journey can take a toll on your mental health. Especially during interviews when athletes like Aryna are questioned about stuff other than tennis, it can be overwhelming. In just one of the interviews, she was asked how she takes her mind off tennis. Her instant answer was “Movies“.

When asked what she is watching, her response was something everyone can relate to, she answered “I don’t know. I like detectives a lot. Comedies as well. Like nothing crazy, you know. Something easy, something which can help to just switch off and relax and probably have a good laugh or just like if it’s interesting for me, people, things. I don’t know, something that’s different”.

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Read More: Belarusian Tennis Beauty Aryna Sabalenka Sizzles Like Never Before in a Stunning Avatar

Despite her struggles, Aryna is winning it all

Even though Aryna has had her fair share of hurdles in the tennis industry, her skill set outshines everything. She made it to the fourth round at Roland Garros. Her last defeat was to Kamilla Rakhimova but for her peace and mental well-being, she exited the match without attending the presser.

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She mentioned to the interviewers later that she felt unsafe that day answering questions. Well, not all athletes like to talk about stuff other than tennis, and Aryna is definitely one of them. Her only focus is to achieve more and win it all. She does not like to comment on things that do not concern her or her game. This is one of the things that sets her apart!

Watch More: Days After Unexpected Attention From Serena Williams, Bizarre Sexist Question Puts Tennis Star Aryna Sabalenka on the Spot at Italian Open 2023