2023-05-07 02:17:56
When she accidentally stepped onto a tennis court at the age of six, Aryna Sabalenka instantly realized that this sport was going to be her obsession, her hobby and her life. Her father, Sergey, was the architect of it. He was a hockey player, but he had never picked up a racket. «He took me to a tennis center and made me try it out. I thought, ‘why not?’ and he loved me ». Since then, the rise has been meteoric for the Minsk player (2 in the world and 25 years old).
On his left forearm he has the face of a roaring tiger tattooed, something that perfectly defines his fierceness on the slopes. It is not an innate characteristic, the Belarusian it has cost him sweat and tears achieve the aggressiveness and power of your game. Even, to achieve his characteristic kick, he had to practice with a biomechanical specialist to find those keys that only science can discern.
Among his goals in tennis has always been be number 1, above winning even a Grand Slam. Her father wanted her to be the best tennis player in the world, and she almost is. Before winning the australian open at the beginning of this year, it was not seen as one of the greats, despite the fact that it has been part of the ‘top ten’ for four seasons. «I did not understand why people asked me for autographs if I was nobody and had no Grand Slam. But I started to respect myself and to convince myself that I was here to work hard. I realized that she was a good player and that she could handle emotions in many situations ».
Cold mind on the track
Like her friend Paula Badosa, felt the pressure of expectations, a burden that took her a long time to assimilate and served as a most dangerous rival. «Before, I would lose a game and it would drive me crazy. Or if she won something, she would celebrate it for two days. Now I take everything more calmly. She repeated it yesterday, already with his second Madrid crown in the hands: «I am very happy with how I have managed the sensations to continue fighting each point and not get out of control».
Over time, Sabalenka has discovered the secret of not being affected by what is expected of her, neither by criticism nor praise from fans, which is usually a difficult challenge to handle For any professional athlete. “It’s part of life. Sometimes they support you, other times they are against you and it is something that does not depend on me. I love it, even if they are against it, I love the fans ».
“I started to respect myself and believe that I was here for working hard”
Belarus has a well-guaranteed future in women’s tennis with an athlete who wants to continue extending the trail that began in its day Victoria Azarenka. And that future is called Aryna Sabalenka. She already believes it, completely: against a number 1, her best performance, she was a two-time champion in Madrid.
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