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Aryna Sabalenka has recalled her “it’s not you, it’s me” moment as she fought to salvage the relationship that ultimately made her career, and caused a sensation by posing with her unique trophy on the bank of the Yarra. River after winning the Australian Open.
Sabalenka jubilantly declared her touching final win over Elena Rybakina the best day of her life, having returned from the depths of despair to finally claim her first Grand Slam singles crown on Saturday night.
On Sunday she celebrated in grand style, unleashing a stream of champagne in a stunning pink dress after disembarking from a gondola on Melbourne’s famous canal.
It was just 10 months ago, while grappling with her doubts and trapped by her infamous service barks, that the Belarusian’s trusted coach, Anton Dubrov, tried to walk away.
But Sabalenka insisted: ‘No, it’s not you. We just have to get through these tough times and we’ll come back stronger.”
‘It was after what happened in Dubai. She just said, “I don’t know what to do. I think you need to find someone else to help you.”
Sabalenka cut a striking figure as she posed with her women’s singles trophy on the banks of Melbourne’s Yarra River on Sunday.
The Belarusian’s trophy differed from that of all the Australian Open champions before her because her home country is not listed next to her name.
But he knew it’s not about him. It’s just something about me. I just have to figure out the problem. We have to get over it.
And overcome it they did.
After coughing up some 56 double faults and falling in the fourth round of last year’s Australian Open, a desperate Sabalenka turned to a psychologist and biomechanic, and the amazing transformation is now complete.
The most dissatisfied talent in tennis is finally a big winner.
‘I am very happy that we continue to work together. We’ve been through a lot together,’ the 24-year-old said as she savored Saturday night’s 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.
‘It’s even sweeter that we do it together as a team. It was a long journey for us. We are here with the Grand Slam title, which is really amazing.
Nothing is easy.
The road to her first Grand Slam victory was a difficult one for the 24-year-old, who had to rebuild after a string of disappointing results.
Self-confidence and learning to stay calm on the court were great pillars for the tennis star.
Banned from competing at Wimbledon last year due to the invasion of Ukraine was enough for Sabalenka.
But she returned to Grand Slam tennis at the US Open with a newfound faith, drawing only positives from a tight three-set semifinal loss to World No.1 Iga Swiatek in New York – her third fall in the last four of a important.
“I learned that I have to be a little calmer on the court and I don’t have to rush things,” Sabalenka said.
“I just have to play my game, stay calm and believe in myself, that I can really do it.”
“These two weeks I was really super calm on the court, and I really believed a lot in myself, that my game will give me a lot of chances every game to win this title.”
Before, Sabalenka never really believed that she belonged.
“I always had this weird feeling when people would come up to me and ask for a signature,” he said.
When her coach Anton Dubrov told her she should find someone else to help take her game to the next level, she refused to let him go and reaped the benefits in Melbourne.
‘I’d be like, ‘Why are you asking for a signature? I’m nobody. I don’t have a Grand Slam’ and all that.
‘But I just changed how I feel. Like, I started to respect myself more. I started to understand that I’m actually here because I work very hard and I’m a good player.
“Just understanding that I’m a good player, I can handle a lot of emotions, a lot of things on the court.
“Every time I had a tough time on the court, I just reminded myself that I’m good enough to handle all of this, just all of it.”
Sabalenka will return to a career-equaling world No. 2 on Monday, with the highest ranking and most major haul in her sights.
“We all have kind of the same goals,” he said.
Win a Grand Slam, of course. It’s not the last on my list.