Aryna Sabalenka Grabs the Chance to Fulfill Late Father’s Deepest Desire as She Guns for Another Australian Open Win

When Sergey Sabalenka introduced his daughter to tennis, he probably never thought Aryna Sabalenka would one day be the World No. 1. Currently occupying a position in the next spot, the Belarusian star forges on ahead without her father, who unexpectedly passed away in 2019. The two of them shared a similar passion for sports, given that he was an ice hockey player himself. One dream that both shared was to see Sabalenka hold a Grand Slam trophy or two.

The father and daughter also had a time frame in mind, which was her age 25 season. And now the time has come for the reigning Australian Open champ to make their shared dream come true for the last time.

Aryna Sabalenka has a lot riding on the Australian Open final

Netflix series Break Point, based on tennis stars, features Aryna Sabalenka from last year before she won any Grand Slams. The Belarusian shared how her father had just one dream for her in the first episode of season 2. “I lost my father four years ago. We have 1 dream that, before 25, I will win a couple of Grand Slams. Now, I am 24, and there is 0 in my pocket.”

This year, on May 5, Aryna Sabalenka will turn 26, just a few weeks before Roland Garros rolls around. If she wants to make her father’s dream come true, Sabalenka will have to win the Grand Slam she is playing right now and defend her Australian Open title. If she fails to win the finals against Qinwen Zheng, then by the next Grand Slam, she will already be 26.

Aryna Sabalenka could have fulfilled her father’s wish to win her second Grand Slam last year, but Coco Gauff snatched that dream away from her. Ironically, it was Gauff who allowed Sabalenka to move ahead this year.

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In a twist of fate, Coco Gauff brought Aryna Sabalenka closer to another Grand Slam

In 2023, Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka competed against each other in the US Open final. The cards were dealt in favor of Coco Gauff the last time, due to which Aryna Sabalenka could not fulfill her father’s dream of having a couple of Grand Slams her way by 25.

But in an ironic turn of destiny, it was Gauff’s defeat against her in the quarterfinals that Sabalenka moved closer to her dream of winning the second Grand Slam of her life before she turned 26. Only tomorrow will tell whether Aryna Sabalenka can fulfill one of her dad’s last wishes for her.

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