Talk about a surprising serve! Aryna Sabalenka just dropped her top-5 tennis legends, and let’s just say a certain friend with 24 Grand Slams didn’t make the cut. Is it a bold statement or an honest oversight? Dive into her unique perspective on the sport, from embracing pressure to advocating for better prize money. What do you make of her choices?
In a move that has sparked widespread discussion among tennis enthusiasts, Aryna Sabalenka recently unveiled her personal list of top five tennis legends, a selection that notably excluded her friend and 24-time Grand Slam champion, Novak Djokovic. Her choices, which featured two prominent women alongside the iconic Roger Federer at the pinnacle, immediately became a talking point, leaving many to wonder about the criteria behind such a significant omission from the Sabalenka tennis legends ranking.
Sabalenka’s surprising top five list placed Roger Federer, a player widely regarded as one of the greatest, at the very top, underscoring his enduring influence and legacy in the sport. The inclusion of two female players further highlighted her diverse appreciation for greatness across both the men’s and women’s tours, even as the absence of Novak Djokovic fueled speculation about her reasoning—whether a genuine oversight or a deliberate statement within the dynamic world of professional tennis.
Beyond her controversial ranking, Aryna Sabalenka offered unique insights into her personal experience as a top athlete. She candidly admitted her discomfort with watching herself play, describing her on-court demeanor as “aggressive” and markedly different from her naturally warm personality off the court. Yet, she acknowledges that this very intensity is a crucial component of her success and competitive drive, a characteristic shared by many grand slam champions.
Coping with the immense pressure and constant scrutiny that accompany a world No. 1 ranking is no small feat. Sabalenka attributes her mental resilience and ability to navigate these challenges to her close-knit inner circle. For her, pressure is not something to be avoided but rather embraced, normalized, and strategically redirected, allowing her to maintain focus and perform at her peak on the WTA Tour.
While achieving the world No. 1 ranking holds prestige, Sabalenka emphasized that true legacies in tennis are defined by major titles, particularly Grand Slams. She articulated a clear distinction between the contractual incentives tied to rankings and the profound hunger for Grand Slam trophies that motivates the elite. Her commitment to continuous improvement, she noted, is non-negotiable, drawing inspiration from legendary figures like Serena Williams and Steffi Graf, whose relentless evolution shaped their careers.
Despite her current achievements as a Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1, Sabalenka firmly believes her best tennis is still ahead. Her future aspirations include refining her slice, enhancing her performance on clay and grass courts, and continuing to evolve both as a professional player and an individual. Retirement, she playfully remarked, remains a distant prospect, with dreams of balancing tennis with family life one day, even if she’s “very old but still trying.”
Sabalenka also spoke candidly about the economic landscape of professional tennis, particularly regarding prize money. If given the opportunity to lead the WTA for a day, her priority would be to significantly increase prize money across the board. She drew sharp comparisons to other major sports like the NBA, NHL, and golf, asserting that the current percentages in tennis are a “joke” and advocating for a substantial financial evolution to benefit future generations of tennis players.
