She has just arrived in Madrid to compete in the Mutua Open tennis tournament, and the jet lag has taken its toll. "We come from Miami, and I am very tired," confesses Aryna Sabalenka as she settles into one of the majestic armchairs of the Presidential Suite at the Four Seasons Hotel, her home for the next two weeks. "For me, it is essential to choose where I stay during a tournament wisely. I need to be certain that after an intense day of competition, I will return to a place where I will feel at home. I spend many hours in the room, so it has to be very comfortable and convey a sense of home. Besides, I love the restaurants in this hotel; it has an incredible spa, the gym is magnificent, and the people, wonderful," assures the world's number 1 in women's tennis.
Before starting the interview, the Belarusian jokes about the "haters" who, shielded by the anonymity provided by social media, spew out the first insult that comes to mind. "Do you know what I love to do? When I read a hurtful comment about me, I check the author's profile to see who they are, and it makes me laugh. I tell myself: 'Seriously, this guy - or girl - who probably has never done sports in their life is picking on me?' I am amazed by people."
Welcome to Madrid. Have you been able to walk around the city?
Yes, in previous editions of the Mutua and I love it. I love the big park that is nearby, the one with the lake. I can't remember the name well: El Retiro? It's beautiful. I have been there several times. The city is amazing.
We are very close to Plaza Mayor. Did you know that?
No, I had no idea!Well, you have to go and have a calamari sandwich with a nice cold beer... You're going to love it!
Really? (laughs). Okay, I'll make a note of that.
My father, who is a big fan of yours, wants me to ask you how you manage to never lose your temper and always be so polite on the court.
Really? Has he really watched my matches? (Laughs). That description doesn't sound like me! On the court, I am very aggressive, very emotional, and competitive. Off the court, I am more positive, but when I compete, I am the opposite.
Have you ever broken a racket?
Of course, many times! Sometimes, it breaks with just one throw. The thing is, I change it very quickly, and people don't even notice.
In Spain, we love the friendship between you and Paula Badosa. It's not very common to see two rivals so close, right?
It's true that a few years ago, it wasn't so common. Players used to keep more distance from each other. Now we are more united, we support each other, and we hang out more. With Paula, it all started in a quite funny way: we decided to play doubles together almost by chance. At first, we didn't get along very well. In fact, when we started talking more, I confessed to her that I thought - let's see how I say this in a politically correct way - that she wasn't very nice, and she told me that she thought the same about me. But as we got to know each other, we realized that we were very similar and that we weren't as unpleasant as we thought (laughs). That's how it all started.
You make a fantastic duo on TikTok. You're Belarusian, but you have Latin hips...
(Laughs). That's what Paula tells me! I'm still far from her, but I try. I have the best teacher in the world!
What is a perfect day for you?
It depends a lot on my mood. Sometimes I like to go out, walk around the city, sit on a terrace, have a coffee, go shopping... especially for clothes or beauty products. I am totally addicted to cosmetics. I always buy a lot and then travel with extra kilos just of that. That's my big weakness. Other times, all I want is to stay in the room all day, watch Netflix, eat something healthy, and have a tea.
What are you watching on Netflix now?
We are watching 'Homeland'. It's a quite old series, but it has hooked us; we are totally into it. However, we are very slow: it takes us almost a week to watch a single episode.
How do you balance your personal life and high competition?
It is essential to surround yourself with good people and allow yourself to do things that make you happy: go out for dinner, go shopping, whatever. But when you get to the tournament or training, you have to be totally focused. Balance is vital.
Is there anything in your daily routine that would surprise your fans?
I don't think so. I share almost everything. I wake up, do my beauty routine, train, eat, train again, have dinner, and repeat the personal care routine. Now I also have a dog, so I also take him for a walk. Nothing too surprising.
By the way, you have spectacular skin despite the sun hitting you on the court. Any secret?
I think it's genetic, but I am also very consistent with products. I love trying new things and always keeping my skin well hydrated. That's the secret.
Do you have a ritual before going on the court? Do you meditate?
I don't meditate because I disconnect too much from my body. It doesn't work for me. My ritual is breakfast: always the same. And a cup of coffee, that mentally centers me.
How do you take care of yourself? What are the pillars of your well-being?
I usually get blood tests periodically to make sure all my values are within the appropriate ranges. Nighttime rest is an essential part of my routine: I use Whoop, an activity bracelet, to monitor the quality of my sleep and try to sleep the necessary hours, as it is a key factor for good recovery. In addition, I take care of my diet, take supplements - always certified - and consume drinks with electrolytes because I consider that proper hydration is fundamental.
What has tennis taught you about yourself?
That I am willing to do whatever it takes to win. That I am mentally much stronger than I thought. Discipline, sacrifice... This sport teaches you a lot.
If you weren't a tennis player, what would you do?
I might have been a boxer. I love boxing. I used to practice it whenever I had time. My great-grandfather was a boxer, so maybe it comes from there. I also really like the world of fashion: photo shoots, campaigns... I think I could have been a model, maybe 'plus size' (laughs)
.I started with a question from my father and end with one from Alba, a 15-year-old tennis player from San Sebastian who wants to know what you would say to girls who train hard, dream big, but doubt if they have what it takes to go as far as you.
Wow, that's a very profound question. I think the most important thing is to give it your all every day and go home with the peace of mind that you have given your best. Try to constantly improve, not only as a player but also as a person, without expecting anything in return. That's exactly what happened to me: I never expected something big to happen, I was just deeply in love with this sport. So, I would tell them to surround themselves with the right people, to be consistent, to dream big, to work hard, and to be willing to sacrifice whatever is necessary to achieve their dream. And not only in tennis, but in any area of life. In the end, life ends up putting opportunities in front of you. It's up to you to be prepared and know how to seize them.