Let’s talk about Aryna Sabalenka. This woman? She’s a force. You know, being the world number one isn’t just about talent – it’s about that serious, never-give-up attitude. And Aryna? She’s got it in spades. On court, she’s all about power and aggression, blasting winners and chasing down every single ball. She’s been grinding it out for years, facing some of the toughest opponents out there. But does all that pressure get to her? Not a chance!

Sabalenka stormed into the Australian Open quarterfinals with a commanding 6-1, 6-2 victory over 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva on Sunday. Under Melbourne’s blazing 34 degrees Celsius (93 Fahrenheit) heat, the world number one extended her winning streak at the tournament to 18 matches. The World No. 1—wearing tiger-striped shoelaces and mini tigers leaping from the heels of her Nikes—broke Andreeva’s serve four times and didn’t drop her own, sealing the match in just 62 minutes, advancing to her ninth straight Grand Slam quarterfinal.

During the post-match press conference, she was asked about her preferred opponent between Pavlyuchenkova and Donna Vekic. The woman wearing the tiger tattoo on her forearm said, “Doesn’t matter. Like, I don’t…I mean, I don’t care, you know?”

When asked if she knows her potential opponents well, she confidently stated, “I know them pretty well. I played a lot of matches against both.” Given that she has a 1-2 head-to-head record against Pavlyuchenkova and a 2-6 record against Vekic, Sabalenka remains unfazed. Not to mention, this is her third consecutive AO quarterfinal!

However, previously facing Pavlyuchenkova, she lost their last encounter at the 2021 French Open in the round of 32 but defeated the Russian earlier that year in the Madrid Open semifinals before clinching the title. Reflecting on her mindset, she added, “Whoever gonna win that match, I’m just going to go there and fight and do my best to get through that match.”

Latest update: Meanwhile, Russian 27th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova delivered a stunning two-set win over 19th seed Donna Vekic. Which means Sabalenka now awaits Pavlyuchenkova in the QFs.

With her added accomplishments over the years and an 8-0 record in 2025 so far, Sabalenka remains a formidable force. Her confidence and fighting spirit will be key as she prepares to face Pavlyuchenkova in the quarterfinals. What’s her secret to maintaining such resilience and determination through every challenge?

Aryna Sabalenka unveils where she gets her “power” from

You might think there’s a secret ingredient behind her commanding performances, but the truth lies in her sheer determination, hard work, and, apparently, “good genetics.”

In the opening round, she overcame a shaky start to defeat 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-2 in just 71 minutes. The second round was tougher, with Sabalenka battling through a tense second set to edge past Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-3, 7-5. By the third round, nerves tested her again, but she prevailed in a hard-fought 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 victory over Denmark’s Clara Tauson, keeping her title defense firmly on track.

Following her win over Maneiro, reporters were eager to uncover the secrets behind her success, particularly curious about her pre-match meals. She said, “What do I eat before the matches? So, you want to know where my power comes from? Ah, there’s no secret; it’s just good genetics.”

With a physique that complements her powerful serve, she emphasized that her diet isn’t a major focus. But while Sabalenka doesn’t rely on specific foods for energy boosts, she is mindful about what she eats.

“Nothing special if I have to go for lunch,” she explained. “I stay pretty simple just to avoid the wrong situation, so I stick with chicken and rice and some salad. And then in the evening, I go for meat.”

With no hidden formula other than good genetics and a straightforward meal plan, Sabalenka is ready to tackle the quarterfinals next. Will this winning mindset carry her through?