Aryna Sabalenka is a professional tennis player from Belarus who has taken the world of women’s tennis by storm since she first appeared on the scene in 2017. In her first two full seasons on the WTA Tour, Sabalenka has established herself as one of the top players in the world with four singles titles and two doubles titles. Her rise to the top of the tennis rankings has been remarkable, and she is currently ranked fifth in the world.
Early Life and Career
Sabalenka was born on May 5, 1998 in Minsk, Belarus. She began playing tennis at the age of four and quickly rose through the junior ranks to become one of the top junior players in the world. She won back-to-back titles at the Junior French Open and Junior Wimbledon in 2016, and also reached the final of the Junior US Open.
Sabalenka turned professional in 2017 and quickly made her presence felt on the WTA Tour. She won her first professional title in 2018 at the Baku Cup in Azerbaijan and followed that up with another title at the Guangzhou Open in China. That same year, she won her first WTA doubles title with partner Elise Mertens at the Kremlin Cup in Russia.
Ranking and Performance in 2019
In 2019, Sabalenka continued her impressive form, winning two singles titles and one doubles title, and reaching the finals of the Rogers Cup in Canada. She also achieved career-high rankings in both singles and doubles, reaching No. 11 and No. 7 respectively.
Breakthrough Year in 2020
2020 was Sabalenka’s breakthrough year. She won her first Premier 5 title at the Dubai Tennis Championships and reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open. She also reached the final of the Italian Open and the semi-finals of the French Open. Her success was rewarded with a career-high ranking of No. 5 in the world in singles.
Style of Play
Sabalenka is known for her powerful and aggressive style of play. She has one of the hardest serves on the WTA Tour and likes to take the ball early and take control of the point. She is also an excellent net player and is comfortable coming forward to take control of the point.
Off the Court
Off the court, Sabalenka is an ambassador for the Women’s Tennis Association and is a passionate advocate for the rights of female athletes. She is also a philanthropist and is involved in various charitable causes.
Awards and Accolades
Sabalenka has won numerous awards and accolades for her achievements on the court. In 2018, she was named the WTA’s Most Improved Player of the Year and was also voted the WTA’s Fan Favorite Singles Player of the Year. In 2020, she was named the WTA’s Player of the Year.
Notable Achievements
- WTA Singles Titles: 4
- WTA Doubles Titles: 2
- Career-High Singles Ranking: No. 5 (2020)
- Career-High Doubles Ranking: No. 7 (2019)
Personal Life
Sabalenka has kept her personal life largely private, but it is known that she is in a relationship with fellow tennis player Alexander Zverev.
Conclusion
Aryna Sabalenka is one of the most exciting young players on the WTA Tour and is quickly becoming one of the top players in the world. She is a native of Belarus and has achieved remarkable success in her short career, winning four singles titles and two doubles titles. She has also achieved career-high rankings in both singles and doubles, and has been rewarded with numerous awards and accolades.