Every journey starts with a dream. And Aryna Sabalenka’s journey began with a dream she first dreamt of with her father. With every passing year, she got closer to it, but along the way, in 2019, she got the most unfortunate news of her life. Aged just 43, her father, Sergey, passed away unexpectedly. Apart from a host of happy memories, the Belarusian star was left with the dream that started her tennis career. And ever since, she’s ensured she’d do anything to fulfill her father’s wish.
After Sabalenka burst into the tennis scene with her high-risk, high-reward game style, she and her dad had another dream: to win two Grand Slams by age 25. With one already under her belt, courtesy of her stellar Australian Open title this year, the 25-year-old is already halfway there. But right now, she’s achieved the very first dream she had with her father, a feat that’ll undoubtedly make him proud in the heavens.
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The 25-year-old is currently in New York, participating in the US Open. Sabalenka has overcome all challenges and is in the quarterfinal stage of the event. In an interview with Vogue, the Belarusian player reflected on her father’s faith in her. Remembering him, she said, “I just saw how proud he was of me—how he was celebrating every win, every title—and he told me then that I have everything I needed to achieve this goal: I just had to learn myself better, to learn how to control my emotions, and one day I’d be world number one. It was like our dream.”
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Aryna Sabalenka will rise to world No.1 for the first time in her career after the #USOpen pic.twitter.com/gJaX4SOsb6
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) September 4, 2023
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With defending champion Iga Swiatek bowing out of the tournament, Aryna Sabalenka will become the new World No.1 when the WTA rankings get updated after the US Open. “It’s not like things will be easier for me right now. It would be better for me to learn this next week, not in the middle of the tournament,” she joked. “Of course, I’m super excited and super happy to achieve this goal.”
As memories of this dream flashed back after she achieved the feat that every player chases, Sabalenka recalled one of the most emotional moments in her tennis career.
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The time Aryna Sabalenka broke down in tears
Following her father’s demise, Sabalenka was set to participate in the Adelaide International tournament. Despite the sad news, she boarded the plane to travel to Australia, showing tremendous grit and determination. Reflecting on her decision, she said, “I’m just trying to fight because my dad wanted me to be No.1. I’m doing it for him. So, that’s what is helping me to be strong right now.”
In a run to the semifinals that demonstrated her mental fortitude, it was only a foreshadowing of the success to come. Now, with a first Grand Slam under her belt, she’s on her path to achieving the other dream she had with her father. Sabalenka’s quarterfinal match against Qinwen Zheng is currently underway in the Arthur Ashe Stadium. The former has raced to a 2-0 lead in the opening set of the match.
Can Aryna Sabalenka win her maiden US Open title this year? Let us know your views in the comments below!
