Who’s had a better spring than Aryna Sabalenka? She achieved the Sunshine Double by winning the prestigious tournaments at Indian Wells and Miami, sat front row at Gucci in Milan (she became a brand ambassador in January), got engaged, and even got the puppy she’d been wanting.
We recently had a rare chance to sit down with the world number one to talk about her style, her famous intensity, her hard-won happiness, and how she thinks tennis needs to evolve. We also discussed her new not-so-secret weapon: the much-talked-about Wilson Blade v10 racquet, which launches today. (For those who don’t know: Wilson’s Blade series debuted two decades ago and is the most-used racquet on the pro tour.)
Vogue: Was the recent Gucci show in Milan your first fashion show?
Aryna Sabalenka: No, I’ve been to several, but not as an ambassador. This one felt special—it seemed like a big moment for Gucci.
Vogue: Have you been doing more with them?
Sabalenka: We’ve done a couple of shoots already, but everything else is still in progress. We’re definitely planning some cool things—I’ve been sharing my ideas with them, and they seem really open. It’s just about putting it all together and figuring out the timing.
Vogue: It also seems like you’re having more fun with your style lately—not just the early Gucci previews we’ve seen, but in your everyday looks. Is that a conscious change?
Sabalenka: I’ve been working with stylist Karla Welch, and she’s really changed my perspective. I love fashion and enjoy getting dressed up, but I think my style is more about classic pieces with a fun detail—it’s a balance, like a lot of things in my life. I believe power is in simplicity. That’s my style.
Vogue: How do you work with Karla?
Sabalenka: She knows everything about me, and we talk a lot. Sometimes I’ll message her and say, “Karla, it’s time for some new stuff,” and she’ll send a whole suitcase. We also do fittings, especially for big events like trophy ceremonies.
[At this point, we’re joined by the newest member of Aryna’s traveling team—Ash, the Cavalier King Charles spaniel—who jumps into her arms for a hug as she smiles.]
Vogue: How did you end up with this amazing puppy?
Sabalenka: I’ve always wanted a dog, but it’s hard to travel with one on tour. So I made a deal with my coach, Anton Dubrov, at the US Open last year—since I’d need my team’s help—that if I won the Open, I could get a dog. I won, and then I thought, “We should name him something related to New York.” I won at Arthur Ashe Stadium, so I decided to call him Ash.
Vogue: He’s very cute.
Sabalenka: He sure is!
Vogue: Maybe I’m imagining it, but there seems to be more fun and joy in your game lately, and less angst—or is that just your Instagram?
Sabalenka: I’ve struggled a lot, but at some point I realized how important it is to do things that bring you joy and to surround yourself with fun, chill people who are there for you no matter what. With the right people, you feel protected and more relaxed—it’s impossible to feel sad around them. My Instagram shows the real me—I’m not faking anything. I want to show that it’s possible to have fun even under pressure. It’s important to send a message to kids that you can have fun while being disciplined and working hard. Balance is key. But it’s all real. I have great people around me. [Laughs.] I’m saying so many nice things about them—probably too many! Our jokes are full of sarcasm.
Vogue: You say some mean things to them sometimes on the trophy platform!
Sabalenka: Yeah, I say mean stuff to them, they say mean stuff to me—it goes both ways. There’s nothing fake in our team. We’re really direct.
Vogue: Can we…So, you want to talk about my talent for wrecking racquets? I’m definitely not the only one, and I’m probably not even the worst. But just to be clear, no tennis player ever destroys a racquet because they’re mad at the racquet, right?
Of course not. It’s something inside you. It’s not just me, and it’s not just tennis. They have those special rooms for it—smash rooms, rage rooms, whatever. It’s like… you’re upset, you’re frustrated, and that’s the first thing in your hand.
I’m actually fascinated by all the different ways people destroy their racquets. There are so many! [Laughs.] My signature move on a bad day is to just hurl it sideways at the back fence. We have referees and ball kids, though, so you have to be careful.
Oh, right, you can’t do that.
When was the last time I broke one? Actually, I don’t remember. The biggest one was at the 2023 US Open, when I went off the court and smashed a whole row of them. But I’ve been “sober” from smashing racquets for about a year now.
Do I remember my first racquet? It was a Wilson. I tried a couple of others, but it was a total disaster, so I went back to Wilson.
Which model? That was so long ago—I don’t even have it anymore because I smashed it. I started playing at six, so it was probably gone by the time I was seven.
I’ve been using the Blade since I was 15 or 16, and more recently, my own signature version called the Fighter. Oh my God, that was the best. But I’m giving it up now—it’s just time for something new. [Grabs a nearby Fighter and hands it over.] But this racquet was the sickest.
I played in two Grand Slam finals with it—won one, lost one. I won the US Open with that racquet, then lost in the final of the WTA Finals with the regular Blade. I thought, “Okay, that’s not a good sign.” So I grabbed the Fighter again in Australia this January and said, “If I win the Australian Open, we’ll know this racquet is good luck.” But then I messed it up [laughs], so we had to come up with a new racquet. Now I’ll be winning.
How is the new Blade different? So many racquets have power but no control, or control but no power. The Blade feels like the perfect balance for me. Every time Wilson updates it, it gets more power and better control, and I love that. I’m curious what tennis will look like in 10 years. It’s all about pushing the limits and seeing how far we can go.
I know a lot of players and fans have been saying the sport is getting too fast, but what can they do if it gets too crazy—change the ball? They’re trying to slow down the courts. The balls are getting heavier, but it doesn’t work well because racquets are getting faster too—we’re just compensating.
There are other issues players are talking about lately. It feels like the sport itself is going through a big shift. Overscheduling is one thing—players feel there are too many tournaments and the point system needs reworking. Others say the balls feel different at every tournament, and not in a good way.
It’s a big deal. The schedule is insane—I think that’s why so many players are getting injured. And yes, the balls are getting too heavy, which takes a huge toll on your body. If you play…If you’re not properly prepared before a tournament, if there isn’t enough time between matches, or if your equipment isn’t right, the stress builds up and eventually leads to injury. But players feel pressured to compete in mandatory events for the ranking points. I understand the goal is to promote the sport, but forcing players into every tournament—especially those that aren’t well promoted—isn’t the way to grow tennis. The four Grand Slams get the most attention because they’re special, and the organizers put in the work to make them major events—exciting for the crowd, the players, everyone. That’s how you truly promote tennis. I believe we should have fewer tournaments, but each should be thoroughly prepared and well-organized. A few things really need to change.
It seems surprising to hear a player like you call for change—you’ve been on such a legendary run, a singular force in women’s tennis. I can’t imagine—
Am I?
Well… yes! From where I stand, that’s beyond debate. You’ve been world number one for over 80 weeks, won four slams, and you only seem to improve with each tournament.
I don’t really see it that way. I’m just focused on myself, trying to be the best I can in every aspect and to enjoy life. We face a lot of pressure, so having fun is really important. I don’t view myself from the outside—I just keep moving forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about how Aryna Sabalenka regained her winning form designed to sound like questions from real fans and answered in simple direct language
Beginner General Questions
Q I remember Sabalenka used to have a lot of double faults What was her biggest problem
A Her biggest technical issue was her serve She had a major case of the service yips which is a sudden loss of control due to nerves This led to a huge number of double faults which shattered her confidence and made her doubt her entire game
Q So how did she actually fix her serve
A She completely rebuilt it from scratch with her biomechanics coach They simplified her motion focused on a smoother rhythm and practiced relentlessly The key was to stop overthinking and trust her new more reliable technique under pressure
Q Did she change coaches to get back on track
A No she did the opposite She stayed incredibly loyal to her core team including coach Anton Dubrov and fitness trainer Jason Stacy She credits this stability and their belief in her during the tough times as a huge factor in her comeback
Q Whats the main difference in her mental game now
A She learned to control her emotions instead of letting them control her Before a missed shot could lead to a fullset meltdown Now she stays calmer accepts mistakes as part of the game and focuses pointbypoint She calls it being a robot on court when she needs to be
Advanced Detailed Questions
Q Beyond the serve what technical adjustments did she make to her overall game
A She improved her movement and fitness dramatically to become a more complete player She also added more variety using slice backhands and better drop shots to disrupt opponents rhythm instead of just relying on pure power from the baseline
Q Was there a specific moment or tournament that marked her true turnaround
A The 2022 WTA Finals was a key turning point Even though she didnt win she reached the final playing with her new reliable serve and renewed confidence This proved to herself she could compete at the top level again which she confirmed by winning the 2023 Australian Open