Aryna Sabalenka Biography – Everything you need to know about tennis player

Aryna Sabalenka is a professional tennis player from Belarus. She is currently ranked as the world No. 1 in singles and was previously the No. 1 player in doubles. Sabalenka has won three Grand Slam singles titles, including the Australian Open in 2023 and 2024, and the US Open in 2024. She has also won two Grand Slam doubles titles, teaming up with Elise Mertens to win the 2019 US Open and the 2021 Australian Open.

Aryna Sabalenka Biography

Aryna Sabalenka (born May 5, 1998) is a professional tennis player from Belarus. She became well-known in 2017 when she and Aliaksandra Sasnovich led Belarus to the Fed Cup finals, despite both being ranked outside the top 75. Sabalenka ended 2018 and 2019 ranked No. 11 in the world in singles.

She reached her career-high singles ranking of world No. 2 in 2021 after making two Grand Slam semifinals but struggled to stay consistent in 2022. In 2023, Sabalenka won her first Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open, reached the semifinals at all four major tournaments, and became the world No. 1.

Sabalenka is known for her aggressive playing style, hitting many winners but also making unforced errors. Her height and strength give her a very powerful serve. She stands 6 feet tall (182 cm) and weighs around 80 kg (176 lbs).

Aryna Sabalenka’s Dominant Run in Brisbane

Aryna Sabalenka secured a spot in the Brisbane International final with a commanding 6-3, 6-2 win against 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva on Saturday. This victory moves Sabalenka closer to her first trophy of the year as she prepares to defend her Australian Open title later this month.

In a hard-fought opening set, Sabalenka saved five breakpoints to edge past Andreeva, who had previously beaten her in the French Open quarterfinals. Sabalenka then dominated the second set with an early break, setting up a final clash against Polina Kudermetova of Russia on Sunday. Last year’s runner-up, Sabalenka emphasized her strategy: “Stay aggressive and keep the pressure on.”

Kudermetova, 21, earned her place in the final after defeating Anhelina Kalinina of Ukraine 6-4, 6-3.

Naomi Osaka Shines in Auckland

Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka reached the Auckland Classic final with a solid 6-4, 6-2 win over Alycia Parks. Osaka, chasing her first trophy since her Australian Open triumph four years ago, will face Denmark’s Clara Tauson in the final. Tauson advanced by upsetting top seed Madison Keys in a close match. “This is really important for me,” said Osaka about her progress.

 

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Early Life and Background

Aryna Sabalenka was born on May 5, 1998, in Minsk, the capital of Belarus. Her father, Sergey, was an ice hockey player but sadly passed away in 2019. Sabalenka started playing tennis by chance when her father noticed tennis courts while driving her somewhere and decided to let her try the sport. She instantly enjoyed it and began playing regularly. In 2014, she started training at the National Tennis Academy in Minsk.

In 2015, the Belarusian Tennis Federation encouraged Sabalenka to focus on low-level professional tournaments instead of junior events, even though she was still eligible for junior competitions.

Career

Sabalenka began playing on the U14 and U16 Tennis Europe tours before joining the ITF Junior Circuit later. She entered her first ITF event in 2013 at the age of 15 but didn’t play in junior Grand Slam tournaments or other high-level junior events.

Her career-high junior ranking was No. 225. Despite this, she achieved early success, winning her first ITF doubles title at the Grade-5 Alatan Tour Cup in Belarus in 2013, partnered with Vera Lapko. By 2014, she excelled in Grade 4 junior events.

2024: Two Major Titles and Year-End No. 1

Sabalenka had a stellar year in 2024. She started the season by reaching the Brisbane International final, where she defeated Victoria Azarenka in the semifinals but lost to Elena Rybakina in the final.

At the Australian Open, Sabalenka defended her title, becoming the first woman since Victoria Azarenka in 2013 to do so. She won the tournament without dropping a set, defeating Zheng Qinwen in the final. On her way to the title, she overcame opponents such as Ella Seidel, Brenda Fruhvirtová, Lesia Tsurenko, Amanda Anisimova, Barbora Krejčíková, and Coco Gauff.

Sabalenka’s success at the Australian Open, combined with her performances throughout the season, helped her finish 2024 as the year-end world No. 1.

Family & Boyfriend

Aryna Sabalenka’s late father, Sergey Sabalenka, was an ice hockey player who had to quit the sport after a car accident ended his professional aspirations. He continued playing ice hockey at an amateur level. Her mother, Yulia Sabalenka, has been a strong supporter of Aryna’s tennis career, although not much is publicly known about her family background.

Aryna Sabalenka is in a relationship with Georgios Frangulis, a race car driver and businessman from Brazil. Frangulis is the founder of Oakberry, a superfood brand, and Aryna signed an endorsement deal with the company in January 2024. He has been spotted at her matches and was mentioned during her 2024 Cincinnati Open victory speech, where Aryna credited him for supporting her success.

Net Worth

Aryna Sabalenka, at just 26 years old, has achieved remarkable success. As of November 2024, her estimated net worth is $13.7 million, according to Forbes. She has earned over $29 million in prize money from her tennis career. In addition to her winnings, Sabalenka earns through brand endorsements and partnerships.