A captivating figure both on and off the court, Sabalenka openly displays her feelings.
While this openness endears her to tennis supporters, it has sometimes been a detriment in major tournaments.
This year, all three Grand Slam tournaments concluded with disheartening losses to American players. Madison Keys surpassed Sabalenka’s power in Australia, Coco Gauff outperformed her in Paris, and Anisimova elevated her game at Wimbledon.
Sabalenka’s enthusiasm and strong desire to triumph have often manifested as frustration and anger, while her inclination to dominate her opponents can lead to frequent errors.
At times, her emotions have even affected her statements. She had to apologize to Gauff after suggesting that the American won the French Open final “not due to exceptional play, but because I made numerous mistakes.”
Sabalenka asserts that she will not repeat that error.
“I have learned from that, and I will never act that way again. That is not who I am,” she stated on Thursday.
“I was extremely emotional. I allowed my emotions to control me, and that is not representative of my true self.”
Improving her ability to manage her emotions is crucial for Sabalenka if she aims to achieve victory once more in New York – particularly when competing against a supportive home crowd.
Following her semi-final defeat at SW19, Sabalenka noted that Anisimova was “more daring” with her shots, and she needs to remind herself that she holds the top ranking in those critical moments.
Sabalenka continues to be an exceptional player in women’s tennis. She has secured 55 victories this year, claimed three titles, and maintains a significant 3,292-point advantage at the top of the rankings.
She is the first female player to reach the finals of both the Australian and US Opens for three consecutive years since Martina Hingis in 1999, and the first to participate in three major singles finals in a single year since Serena Williams in 2016.
However, despite these impressive achievements, concluding 2025 without a Grand Slam victory could be considered a major setback for a competitor like Sabalenka, who is accustomed to winning.
