Dreams do come true! “If you’re really working hard sacrificing everything for your dream, you’re going to get it one day,” this is what Aryna Sabalenka said after winning her third Grand Slam title. Last year, she came an inch closer to clinching this tile, but she fell at the hands of Coco Gauff. It was her late father, Sergey’s dream, to see her daughter win a couple of Slam titles before she turns 25. Sabalenka finally managed to win her second at the AO this year. Now, she has also successfully fulfilled the wish of her mother.

Sabalenka beat American tennis star, Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 to win her second major of the 2024 season. “I’m speechless right now. It’s always been a dream of mine and finally, I got this beautiful trophy,” said Sabalenka after this emphatic triumph. Previously during the AO, her mother, Yulia Sabalenka, shared a tweet stating, “Twins. I want at least triplets!!! And we need to diversify the collection somehow.” Now, it’s time to expand their trophy cabinet a bit more!

For Yulia, two similar trophies (AO) were a bit “boring.” She wanted her daughter to win a different one. With this emphatic triumph in NY, the mother-daughter duo would perhaps be on cloud nine. Sabalenka loves spending time with her mother. During a Q&A session, she was once asked who takes care of her mom when she’s on the tour. Replying to that question, Sabalenka said, “She is still young. She can take care of herself by herself. She has my sister there, her mom, some friends. We will spend more time together after I retire.”

Both of her parents have played an enormous role in helping her pursue her dreams in the racquet sport. Aryna describes her late father as one of her “biggest motivations.” Her father witnessed her make her debut on the Tour in 2015. However, he couldn’t watch her win any Grand Slam titles. Sabalenka won her first major title at the 2023 AO, but her father sadly passed away in 2019 at the age of 43 due to meningitis. Here’s what Aryna Sabalenka had to say about the role of her father in her career.

“I think my personality came from my father” – Aryna Sabalenka

Sabalenka shared an interesting story about her journey with the racquet, talking about how she fell in love with tennis. “One day, my dad was just driving me somewhere in the car, and on the way he saw tennis courts. So he took me to the courts. I really liked it and enjoyed it and that’s how it was. That’s how it started,” said Sabalenka. So, after winning the 2024 AO, she remembered her father’s wish, and revealed that he is still her “biggest motivation.”

Sabalenka further added that his father has been “everything” for her. “Right now I have my mom, my sister, who is here with me, and I feel like I have to think about them…I just feel that he’s always with me. I’m very thankful for everything he did for me, and I think if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be here,” she said after winning the title in Melbourne earlier this year.

Then recently, just before the US Open, she was asked to reflect a bit about her personality. In reply, Sabalenka said, “I think my personality came from my father. I wish he would be still alive.” Sabalenka has weathered quite a few storms in the last few years, but still, she has managed to overcome all the hurdles and become one of the finest in the women’s tour.

What is the real secret to this strong mentality? Well, according to Sabalenka, one needs to balance hard work, expectations, pressure, and everything with little joy. Her fun-loving attitude has indeed helped her to keep her more focused on her goals. Share your thoughts on her incredible title-winning run at the 2024 US Open.