In a candid interview, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka expressed skepticism about replicating the extraordinary Grand Slam haul amassed by tennis icon Serena Williams during her illustrious career.
Williams, the younger of the famed Williams sisters, concluded her professional journey in 2022 with a record-breaking 23 major titles in the Open Era. At 27 years old, Sabalenka has secured four Grand Slams so far, with her latest triumph coming at this year’s US Open. However, the Belarusian star acknowledged the immense challenge in approaching Williams’ benchmark.
“Everyone aims to shatter every record—that’s a given,” Sabalenka remarked during her time in Wuhan. “But the smart approach is to concentrate on your own progress, honing your skills on the court and growing personally. If you’re worthy of those major victories and record-breaking feats, they’ll come naturally.
“My primary aim is to evolve as an athlete. Naturally, I’d love to achieve that level, but equaling the Grand Slam count Serena Williams reached will be incredibly tough.”
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Williams stepped away from the sport at age 40, meaning Sabalenka might need to extend her career beyond that milestone to have a shot. Despite this, the top-ranked player emphasized that chasing records isn’t her main priority.
“For me, the objective is to push my limits in tennis as much as I can,” she added. “I pour everything into it daily; this sport is my life. I truly hope that when I retire, I can reflect on my accomplishments with immense pride.”
Sabalenka prefers not to fixate on specific targets, instead channeling her energy inward. “The ambitions are clear, but I avoid locking in on one. What I’ve realized this year is the importance of self-focus. In competition, my mindset is always to win, so I take it match by match, one step at a time.
“Those challenging defeats and obstacles I’ve faced this season have undoubtedly built my resilience as both a person and a competitor. It’s all about growth. Over time, I’ve come to embrace whatever comes and deliver my utmost in every instance. That’s really all that’s in your hands,” Sabalenka reflected, noting her ongoing success in recent outings.
