Aryna Sabalenka Talks to Miami Living

Apr 15
3 min read

In a recent exchange, Miami Living delved into Aryna Sabalenka's viewpoints on Miami and beyond.

INTERVIEW BY MARKIN ABRAS

Aryna Sabalenka has established herself as a dominant force in professional tennis, known for her power and consistency across the tour. Her major singles accomplishments include four Grand Slam titles, all won on hard courts: back-to-back Australian Open championships in 2023 and 2024, followed by consecutive US Open titles in 2024 and 2025, where she defeated Amanda Anisimova in straight sets. This achievement made her the first woman since Serena Williams to successfully defend the US Open crown.

In Miami Open competition, Sabalenka reached a career milestone in 2026 by winning the title, marking her best performance at the event. Just 13 days before lifting the Miami Open trophy, she captured the Indian Wells Open title, completing the prestigious “Sunshine Double”—a rare and difficult feat!

In doubles, Aryna Sabalenka has captured two Grand Slam titles—winning the US Open in 2019 and the Australian Open in 2021, both alongside Elise Mertens. These achievements helped her reach the world No. 1 ranking in doubles, complementing her success in singles and placing her among the few players to have held the top position in both singles and doubles.

On Miami

“The city offers everything you need. You can have fun, relax, work hard, practice, and they have great courts there. It feels like a paradise to me! With palm trees, always sunny weather, and people in good spirits, it’s an ideal place to recharge after a tough week on the tour.”

Off the Court

“Yeah, I enjoy going to the beach to relax. They have a lot of great beaches there, and playing volleyball on the beach – that’s my favorite activity!”

Memorable Moments

“When I didn’t play Wimbledon, I spent about 10 days there. It was truly fantastic. I dined at good restaurants, went to the beach, played volleyball, and it was filled with beautiful moments. That is definitely the most memorable moment for me.”

More on Sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka, born in Minsk, Belarus, had an unexpected introduction to tennis when her father, a former ice hockey player, stumbled upon tennis courts while driving her somewhere. Intrigued by the sport, Aryna started playing and quickly discovered her passion for it. She began her formal training at the National Tennis Academy in Minsk when it opened in 2014.

In 2013, at the age of 15, she won her first ITF title in doubles and began making strides in her singles career. Despite skipping higher-level junior tournaments, she managed to excel in low-level professional events, laying the foundation for her future success.

Sabalenka’s rapid ascent in professional tennis was remarkable due to her aggressive style of play and powerful serve. By 2019, she rose in tennis ranks, securing her place among the elite with multiple WTA titles and top 10 rankings in singles and doubles. Partnering with Elise Mertens, she clinched two major doubles titles. In 2023, Sabalenka soared higher, winning her first Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open, solidifying her status as a top player. She defended her title in 2024, winning the Australian Open without dropping a set, a feat last achieved by Azarenka in 2013. In 2024, Sabalenka captured her first US Open title with a 7-5, 7-5 victory over American player Jessica Pegula.

Beyond tennis, Sabalenka has sponsorships with Nike and Wilson, while her vocal political stance, evidenced by criticisms of the Belarusian government and expressions of support for Ukrainian citizens during the Russian invasion.