Regardless of how the 2025 Australian Open unfolds, it’s evident that Sabalenka’s journey is just beginning, and her story will keep inspiring both on and off the court.
Aryna Sabalenka, the reigning Australian Open champion, made a surprising
and candid admission about her future in tennis just hours before stepping
onto the court for her first match of the 2025 tournament. In a video interview
with the Australian Open, Sabalenka spoke about the realities of being a
professional athlete and shared her personal thoughts on retirement,
motherhood, and her life beyond tennis.
At 26 years old, Sabalenka is at the peak of her career, having won back-to-
back Australian Open titles and the 2023 US Open. However, she
acknowledged that as a professional athlete, she is constantly aware of the
physical demands that come with the sport and the inevitability of retirement.
“Being a professional athlete, I’m getting really close to my retirement,”
Sabalenka admitted, after reflecting on her age and the fact that many athletes
retire in their early 30s. “Can you believe that? People are retiring at like 30,”
she added, laughing as her interviewer pointed out she was still young.
As the world No. 1, Sabalenka enters the 2025 Australian Open with a sense of
accomplishment but also a new perspective on her place in the sport. Despite
her dominant form on the court, including her recent title defense in
Melbourne and victory at the US Open, Sabalenka is already contemplating life
beyond tennis. She spoke about how, in her younger years, she used to enjoy
running along the Yarra River but now has to limit those activities to protect
her body. “Now I’m not running that much. I need to save my hips, my back,”
she explained.
The conversation took a more personal turn when Sabalenka discussed her
desire to start a family. She revealed that while she loves children, she doesn’t
want to wait until she’s 35 to have her first child. “I hope I’ll have a family. I
love kids, I don’t want to have my first kid at 35,” she said, before adding that
she hoped to return to tennis after having children and show her future child
the value of hard work. “I really want to have a kid and then come back and I
want my kid to see how hard you should work in life to get things,” she
explained, sharing her vision of balancing motherhood with her professional
ambitions.
Sabalenka’s openness about her personal life and future goals surprised even
herself, with the 26-year-old admitting the conversation turned into
something “very deep.” However, despite her thoughts on retirement, she
made it clear that she is not done with tennis yet. “I’m so into this sport and I
think I’m not done yet,” she declared, emphasizing her passion for the game
and determination to continue competing at the highest level.
Beyond her personal revelations, Sabalenka is focused on defending her
Australian Open title in 2025, which could see her join an elite group of
players who have won the tournament three times in a row. She acknowledged
the potential significance of this achievement, noting that if she were to win,
Goolagong Cawley, Monica Seles, Steffi Graf, and Martina Hingis. “I know that
I have the possibility of joining legends by winning three times in a row,” she
said. “I don’t want to over-think about that, I just want to do my job.”
Sabalenka’s journey has not been without its challenges. Last year, she faced
personal tragedy with the death of her ex-partner, Konstantin Koltsov, and
later attributed her health and injury struggles to not taking time off to grieve.
Despite these setbacks, Sabalenka has shown incredible resilience, pushing
through the difficulties to maintain her position at the top of the game.
As she prepares for her opening match in Melbourne, Sabalenka is not only
defending a prestigious title but also reflecting on the larger picture of her life
and career. Her plans for the future, including starting a family, serve as a
reminder of the balance athletes must find between their professional goals
and personal lives. Whatever the outcome of the 2025 Australian Open, it’s
clear that Sabalenka’s journey is far from over, and her story will continue to
inspire both on and off the court.
