How Did Aryna Sabalenka Control Her Emotions to Achieve US Open Success?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Mental Toughness: Sabalenka’s emotional control was pivotal in her success.
- Learning from Defeats: Past finals taught her valuable lessons for improvement.
- Resilience: Overcoming setbacks fueled her determination to win.
- Celebrating Achievements: Sabalenka's victory is a reflection of her hard work.
- Inspiration: Her story motivates athletes to embrace challenges.
New York, Sep 7 (NationPress) After achieving the remarkable feat of being the first player since Serena Williams to clinch consecutive US Open titles, Aryna Sabalenka attributed her triumph to her skill in managing her emotions and self-belief.
Following a challenging start to the year with finals at the Australian Open and Roland Garros that didn’t go her way, the reigning No. 1 finally secured her first major title of 2025 and her fourth overall.
Sabalenka aimed for a third straight Australian Open victory but fell to Madison Keys in a three-set showdown, and later faced defeat against Coco Gauff in the finals at Roland Garros. However, she turned the tide at the US Open, overcoming American Amanda Anisimova, who had previously knocked her out in the Wimbledon semifinals.
“After the French Open, I realized it was time to reflect on those finals and learn from them,” Sabalenka noted. “I wanted to avoid repeating the past. I had the mindset that reaching the final meant victory was assured, which was a flawed perspective. For this final, I committed to controlling my emotions.”
“There were moments where I was nearly on the verge of losing focus,” she admitted. “But I told myself, ‘Stay sharp, keep pushing. All those tough lessons were worth this moment,’” she added.
With her second consecutive US Open title, Sabalenka marked her 100th career Grand Slam match win and boosted her tour-leading victory tally to 56 in the current season. Over the last three years, she has participated in 11 majors, winning four, reaching three finals, three semifinals, and one quarterfinal.
“This final felt unique due to the challenges I’ve faced earlier this season. I truly earned this Grand Slam title through hard work,” she expressed.
Sabalenka secured her win on her third match point when Anisimova's serve went awry, leading her to collapse on the court, tears of joy filling her eyes.
“When I fell, it was a genuine emotional release. Defending this title and delivering such an exhilarating performance means everything. Being able to manage my emotions during this final is a significant achievement. I am extremely proud of myself right now,” she stated.