Aryna Sabalenka has solidified her status as a leading figure in women’s tennis, known for her explosive power and relentless drive. Born in Minsk in 1998, she turned professional in 2015 and has risen to world No. 1, holding the spot multiple times.
By age 27, she has claimed 22 WTA singles titles, including four Grand Slams, and earned over $46 million in prize money. Her 2025 season saw her defend the US Open title and finish as year-end No. 1 for the second straight year.
In early 2026, she kicked off with a Brisbane win but fell in the Australian Open final to Elena Rybakina. Sabalenka’s path shows a player who has honed her raw talent into consistent success, overcoming early inconsistencies to dominate the tour.
Career Overview
Sabalenka’s professional start came on the ITF circuit, where she won her first titles in 2015. She broke into the WTA scene in 2017, reaching her first final in Tianjin and winning a WTA 125 event in Mumbai. That year, she helped Belarus reach the Fed Cup final. Her breakthrough arrived in 2018 with titles in New Haven and Wuhan, earning her WTA Newcomer of the Year honors and a top-10 entry.
In 2019, she added three singles titles—Shenzhen, Wuhan, and the Elite Trophy—while excelling in doubles with Elise Mertens, capturing Indian Wells, Miami, and the US Open. The pair won the Australian Open doubles in 2021, making Sabalenka No. 1 in doubles. Her singles progress continued with three 2020 titles in Doha, Ostrava, and Linz, securing her first year-end top-10 finish.
The 2021 season brought her first WTA 1000 title in Madrid and Grand Slam semifinals at Wimbledon and the US Open, peaking at No. 2. In 2022, she reached the WTA Finals final and another US Open semifinal. Her major triumph came in 2023 with the Australian Open win, followed by semifinals at all four Slams and a brief No. 1 stint after the US Open final. She earned ITF World Champion that year.
Sabalenka defended her Australian Open title in 2024, added the US Open, and won Cincinnati and Wuhan, finishing as year-end No. 1 and WTA Player of the Year. In 2025, she claimed Brisbane, Miami, Madrid, and defended the US Open—her fourth major—while reaching finals at the Australian Open, French Open, and WTA Finals. She repeated as year-end No. 1 and WTA Player of the Year, posting 63 wins and over $15 million in earnings.
Entering 2026, she defended Brisbane without dropping a set and reached her fourth straight Australian Open final, losing to Rybakina. As of February 2026, her career record stands at 490-201 in singles, with six doubles titles. Off court, she supports causes like mental health and has dealt with personal losses, including her father’s death in 2019 and boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov’s in 2024. She represents Belarus in team events and has Olympic experience, reaching the second round in Tokyo.
Playing Style
Sabalenka competes as an aggressive baseliner, relying on her powerful serve and groundstrokes to overwhelm opponents. Her first serve often exceeds 120 mph, leading the tour in aces multiple years, though she has worked on reducing double faults after peaks like 440 in 2022. She revamped her second serve in late 2022 with biomechanical help, boosting consistency.
Her forehand and two-handed backhand deliver flat, heavy shots with depth, allowing her to dictate rallies and hit winners from anywhere. At 6 feet tall, she moves well for her size, covering the court with speed and using her reach for defensive plays. She adds variety with slices and drop shots but thrives in high-pace exchanges, wearing down rivals physically.
Mentally, Sabalenka has grown tougher, channeling emotions into focus after early career outbursts. She excels on hard courts, where her power shines, but has improved on clay, winning Madrid three times. Her loud grunting and intensity make her a formidable presence, as noted by peers like Iga Swiatek after their clashes.
Grand Slam Record
Sabalenka’s Grand Slam tally includes four titles from 31 appearances, with a 106-27 win-loss record. She has reached at least the semifinals in 14 majors.
The Australian Open is her strongest, with wins in 2023 over Elena Rybakina and 2024 over Zheng Qinwen—without dropping a set in 2024. She made finals in 2025, losing to Madison Keys, and 2026, falling to Rybakina after a comeback. Her Melbourne record is exceptional, with extended win streaks.
At the US Open, she triumphed in 2024 over Jessica Pegula and defended in 2025 against Amanda Anisimova, becoming the first since Serena Williams in 2014 to repeat. She was runner-up in 2023 to Coco Gauff and semifinalist in 2021 and 2022.
The French Open saw her first final in 2025, defeating Swiatek in the semifinals but losing to Gauff. She reached semifinals in 2023 and quarterfinals in 2024. Wimbledon has three semifinals—in 2021, 2023, and 2025—but no final yet.
In doubles, she won the 2019 US Open and 2021 Australian Open with Mertens. Sabalenka became the first since Serena Williams in 2016 to reach semifinals at all four Slams in one year (2023), repeating deep runs in 2025.
Career Milestones
Sabalenka’s achievements mark her as one of the era’s top players. She entered the top 100 in 2017 and top 10 in 2018 after her first Premier 5 win in Wuhan, which she defended in 2019 and won again in 2024—completing a three-peat. In doubles, she and Mertens achieved the Sunshine Double in 2019 and two majors.
She hit No. 2 in singles in 2021 after Madrid and her first Slam semis. Her 2023 Australian Open victory was her first major, followed by No. 1 after the US Open. In 2024, she became the first since Victoria Azarenka in 2013 to defend the Australian Open and added her third Slam at the US Open.
The 2025 season brought her fourth major with the US Open defense, plus Miami and Madrid wins—her ninth and tenth WTA 1000 titles. She reached nine finals that year, a tour high, and crossed 100 Grand Slam wins during the US Open. She also hit 70 weeks at No. 1 overall.
In 2026, her Brisbane defense marked her 22nd title and extended her Australian win streak. She added Max Mirnyi as a consultant in 2025 and played a mixed exhibition against Nick Kyrgios in December 2025.
Awards include two WTA Player of the Year honors and two ITF World Champion titles. Her 25 top-5 wins place her among active leaders like Azarenka.
