History of Aryna Sabalenka in Timeline

Aryna Sabalenka is a Belarusian professional tennis player currently ranked world No. 1 in singles by the WTA. She's a former world No. 1 in doubles. Sabalenka has secured 19 WTA Tour-level singles titles, highlighted by her major wins at the 2023 and 2024 Australian Open, and the 2024 US Open. Additionally, she has claimed eight WTA 1000 titles. In doubles, Sabalenka has six titles, including major victories at the 2019 US Open and 2021 Australian Open, both achieved with partner Elise Mertens.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

May 1998: Aryna Sabalenka's Birth

In May 1998, Aryna Siarhiejeŭna Sabalenka was born. She is a professional tennis player from Belarus.

Others born on this day/year

1998: Natasha Zvereva's Wimbledon Performance

In 1998, Natasha Zvereva reached the last four of Wimbledon.

1999: Steffi Graf's Roland Garros Performance

In 1999, Steffi Graf defeated the top 3 players at Roland Garros.

2002: Serena Williams' Miami Open Performance

In 2002, Serena Williams defeated the top 3 players at the Miami Open.

2008: Venus Williams' WTA Finals Performance

In 2008, Venus Williams defeated the top 3 players at the WTA Finals.

2011: Victoria Azarenka's Wimbledon Semifinal

In 2011, Victoria Azarenka reached the last four of Wimbledon.

2012: Start on ITF Women's Circuit

In 2012, Aryna Sabalenka began her journey on the ITF Women's Circuit, participating in tournaments in her hometown of Minsk.

2012: Victoria Azarenka's Wimbledon Semifinal

In 2012, Victoria Azarenka reached the last four of Wimbledon.

2013: First ITF Event and Title

In 2013, Aryna Sabalenka competed in her first ITF event, the Tallink Cup in Estonia, and later won her first ITF doubles title at the Alatan Tour Cup in Belarus with Vera Lapko.

2013: Victoria Azarenka's Australian Open Title Defense

In 2013, Victoria Azarenka was the last woman to defend her title at the Australian Open, a feat Aryna Sabalenka would later emulate.

2014: First Professional Match Win

At the end of 2014, Aryna Sabalenka secured her first professional match win in Istanbul.

2014: Success in Grade 4 Events

In 2014, Aryna Sabalenka excelled at Grade 4 events, reaching her first singles final at the Estonian Junior Open and winning her first singles title at the MTV Total Junior Cup in Finland. She also defended her Alatan Tour Cup doubles title and won the singles title.

2014: Junior Fed Cup

In 2014, Aryna Sabalenka represented Belarus at the Junior Fed Cup, where the team finished in sixth place.

2014: Training at National Tennis Academy

In 2014, Aryna Sabalenka started her training at the National Tennis Academy in Minsk when it first opened.

2015: European Junior Championships

In 2015, Aryna Sabalenka participated in the European Junior Championships, her highest-level junior tournament, where she lost in the second round to Markéta Vondroušová.

2015: Focus on Professional Events

In 2015, the Belarusian Tennis Federation advised Aryna Sabalenka and her team to concentrate on playing low-level professional events, rather than junior tournaments.

April 2016: Senior Fed Cup Debut

In April 2016, Aryna Sabalenka made her senior Fed Cup debut for Belarus, losing a doubles match. However, the team qualified for the World Group for the first time.

2016: WTA Tour and Grand Slam Debut

In 2016, Aryna Sabalenka played her first WTA Tour main draw at the Dubai Open and won her first WTA Tour match at Wimbledon, marking her Grand Slam debut.

2016: Breakthrough into Top 300 and Fed Cup Debut

In 2016, Aryna Sabalenka won multiple titles, entered the top 300 WTA rankings, made her Fed Cup debut, and achieved her two biggest titles to date, finishing the year ranked No. 137 in the world.

2016: Reaching Grand Slam Semifinals

In 2016, Serena Williams was the last player to reach the semifinals of all four major events in a single year, a feat Aryna Sabalenka would later match.

2017: Transition to WTA Events

In 2017, Aryna Sabalenka began to participate almost exclusively in WTA events.

2017: First Time on Grass Courts

In 2017, Aryna Sabalenka played on grass courts for the first time at Wimbledon and enjoyed it, noting her game is suited for grass and hard courts.

2017: Fed Cup Runner-Up Finish

In 2017, Aryna Sabalenka, along with Aliaksandra Sasnovich, guided the Belarus Fed Cup team to a runner-up finish.

2017: Belarus' Fed Cup Success

In 2017, the text references Belarus' Fed Cup success, setting the stage for their performance in the following year.

2018: Grunting Mocked at Australian Open

At the Australian Open in 2018, the crowd mocked Aryna Sabalenka's loud grunting habit during a match against Ashleigh Barty.

2018: Year-End Ranking

At the end of 2018, Aryna Sabalenka was ranked No. 11 in the world in singles.

2018: Rivalry with Ashleigh Barty Begins

From 2018, Aryna Sabalenka and Ashleigh Barty met eight times. By 2022 their head-to-head record was tied at 4-4.

2018: Coaching Changes in 2018

In 2018, Aryna Sabalenka began working with Magnus Norman and Magnus Tideman after two years with Khalil Ibrahimov. Dmitry Tursunov became her primary coach in time for the grass court season.

2018: Ladies Open Lugano Finals

In 2018, Aryna Sabalenka reached both the singles and doubles finals at the Ladies Open Lugano on clay.

2018: Progress on the WTA Tour

In 2018, Aryna Sabalenka reached two quarterfinals early in the year and had a third-round appearance at the Indian Wells Open.

2018: Wuhan Open 2018

In 2018, Aryna Sabalenka won the first of two consecutive titles at the Wuhan Open.

2018: Fed Cup Quarterfinal Loss

In 2018, Belarus, with Aryna Sabalenka winning both her singles, lost their Fed Cup quarterfinal tie against Germany in Minsk despite Sabalenka's efforts.

2018: Improved Shot Selection

In the summer of 2018, Aryna Sabalenka's coach Dmitry Tursunov helped her improve her shot selection.

2019: Year-End Ranking

At the end of 2019, Aryna Sabalenka maintained her ranking at No. 11 in the world in singles.

2019: Fed Cup World Group Play-offs

In 2019, Aryna Sabalenka and Aliaksandra Sasnovich split their singles rubbers during the Fed Cup World Group play-offs against Slovakia. Ultimately, Belarus remained in the World Group after their doubles team won the decisive match.

2019: Doubles Success with Mertens

In 2019, Aryna Sabalenka began playing doubles regularly, achieving immediate success with Elise Mertens by winning the Sunshine Double (Indian Wells and Miami) and the US Open doubles title.

2019: Coaching Split and Reunion

In 2019, Aryna Sabalenka briefly split with Dmitry Tursunov after the US Open, but they reunited later in the year before permanently splitting at the end of the season.

2019: 2019 Fed Cup Quarterfinals and Semifinals

In 2019, Aryna Sabalenka helped Belarus advance to the Fed Cup semifinals by winning her singles rubbers against Germany in the quarterfinals. However, Belarus was eliminated by Australia in the semi-finals, despite Sabalenka and Azarenka defeating Stosur.

2019: Wuhan Open 2019

In 2019, Aryna Sabalenka won her second consecutive title at the Wuhan Open.

2019: Death of Sergey Sabalenka

In 2019, Aryna Sabalenka's father, Sergey, a former ice hockey player, died suddenly at age 43 due to meningitis.

2019: Father's Death

In 2019, Aryna Sabalenka's father, Siarhiej, who was an ice hockey player, passed away.

2019: US Open Doubles Title

In 2019, Aryna Sabalenka, partnering with Elise Mertens, won the US Open doubles title.

2019: Rivalry with Elena Rybakina Begins

Since 2019, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina have met ten times, with Sabalenka leading the head-to-head at 6-4.

August 2020: Criticism of Belarusian Government

In August 2020, during the 2020–2021 Belarusian protests, Aryna Sabalenka criticized the government of Alexander Lukashenko for its dispersal of peaceful protests and called for no violence. She was criticized for not advocating the protest movement's goals, while praising the government for its support of the country and sports.

2020: Wuhan Open Suspension

From 2020 to 2023, the Wuhan Open was suspended due to COVID-19.

2020: Double Faults Leader

In 2020, Aryna Sabalenka served 166 double faults, the most of any player.

2020: Rivalry with Coco Gauff Begins

Since 2020, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff have engaged in a notable rivalry, meeting nine times with Gauff leading at 5-4.

February 2021: Doubles World No. 1

In February 2021, Aryna Sabalenka won the doubles competition with Elise Mertens at the Australian Open, ascending to world No. 1 in the doubles rankings on February 22, 2021.

2021: Best Run of the Season at the US Open

Aryna Sabalenka had her best run of the season at the 2021 US Open. Seeded sixth, she advanced to the semifinals, matching her best result from the year before.

2021: Relationship with Konstantin Koltsov Begins

Aryna Sabalenka was in a relationship with Konstantin Koltsov starting in 2021. He passed away in March 2024.

2021: Peak Ranking

Following two major singles semifinal appearances in 2021, Aryna Sabalenka reached her peak ranking at world No. 2.

2021: Yips with Double Faults

From the 2021 WTA Finals into 2022, Aryna Sabalenka struggled with the yips, serving 152 double faults in 11 matches.

2021: First Clay Court Title

In 2021, Aryna Sabalenka won her first clay court title at the Madrid Open.

2021: World No. 1 in Doubles

In 2021, Aryna Sabalenka won the Australian Open doubles title, leading to her becoming the world No. 1 in doubles, after which she focused primarily on singles.

2021: Abu Dhabi Open Victory

In 2021, Aryna Sabalenka won the title at the Abu Dhabi Open, extending her winning streak to 15 matches and reaching a new ranking of No. 7.

2021: Madrid Open Title and Top 5 Ranking

In 2021, Aryna Sabalenka won the title at the Madrid Open against Ashleigh Barty, leading her to enter the top 5 rankings in singles at world No. 4.

2021: Australian Open Doubles Title

In 2021, Aryna Sabalenka, in partnership with Elise Mertens, secured the Australian Open doubles title.

2021: Rivalry with Iga Świątek Begins

Since 2021, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Świątek have developed a prominent rivalry, marked by twelve matches.

2022: Rivalry with Ashleigh Barty Ends

From 2018 to 2022, Aryna Sabalenka and Ashleigh Barty met eight times, with a tied head-to-head record of 4-4.

2022: Struggles at Adelaide International

In 2022, Aryna Sabalenka experienced difficulties at the Adelaide International 1 and 2, marked by multiple double faults and early-round losses.

2022: Struggles in 2022

In 2022, Aryna Sabalenka faced challenges in maintaining consistent success after reaching the world No. 2 ranking.

2022: Qatar Open and Stuttgart Open

In 2022, Aryna Sabalenka reached the quarterfinals at the Qatar Open and her first final of the year at the Women's Stuttgart Open, where she lost to Iga Świątek.

2022: Double Faults and Serve Improvements

In August 2022, Aryna Sabalenka began improving her second serve after working with a biomechanics expert following the 2022 Canadian Open. Overall, she served 440 double faults in 2022.

2022: Banning of Russian and Belarusian players from Wimbledon Championships

In January 2023, Aryna Sabalenka addressed the banning of Russian and Belarusian players from the 2022 Wimbledon Championships, stating it was "not her fault."

January 2023: Statements on Russian Invasion of Ukraine

In January 2023, Aryna Sabalenka addressed the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the ban of Russian and Belarusian players from the 2022 Wimbledon Championships, stating it was "not her fault." Her comments were criticized for lacking substance and compassion, but she later expressed support for ending the war and stated that she doesn't support war or Lukashenko.

January 2023: Appearance in Netflix's Break Point

On 13 January 2023, Aryna Sabalenka appeared in the tennis docuseries Break Point, which premiered on Netflix.

2023: Aryna Sabalenka appears on leaderboards

Aryna Sabalenka appears on leaderboards in 2023/2024 with 9 weeks.

2023: Wuhan Open Suspension

From 2020 to 2023, the Wuhan Open was suspended due to COVID-19.

2023: Australian Open Victory and No. 1 Ranking

In 2023, Aryna Sabalenka achieved her first major singles title at the Australian Open and attained the world No. 1 ranking, leading to her recognition as the ITF World Champion.

2023: 2023 Madrid Open Final

In 2023, Aryna Sabalenka defeated Iga Świątek in three sets at the Madrid Open final to win her second Madrid title.

2023: 2023 Season

In 2023, Aryna Sabalenka had a successful year, marked by both triumphs and challenges. She reached the quarterfinals in Dubai, losing to Barbora Krejčíková, but later avenged this defeat at Indian Wells, where she reached the final, ultimately losing to Elena Rybakina. At the Miami Open, Sabalenka again reached the quarterfinals but was defeated by Sorana Cîrstea.

2023: Australian Open Title

In 2023, Aryna Sabalenka won her first major singles title at the Australian Open and also achieved the world No. 1 ranking, leading to her being named the ITF World Champion for the season.

2023: Custom Garments from Nike

Starting from the 2023 US Open, Nike began designing custom garments for Aryna Sabalenka, who has been endorsed by Nike for apparel and shoes since the beginning of her professional career. She also uses the Wilson Blade range of racquets.

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March 2024: Death of Konstantin Koltsov

In March 2024, Aryna Sabalenka's boyfriend since 2021, Konstantin Koltsov, died of an apparent suicide at age 42. Sabalenka later confirmed they were separated at the time.

2024: Coaching Team in 2024

As of 2024, Aryna Sabalenka's coaching team includes Anton Dubrov, Jason Stacy, and Andrei Vasilevski.

2024: 2024 Australian Open

In 2024, Aryna Sabalenka defeated Coco Gauff at the Australian Open.

2024: Australian and US Open Victories

In 2024, Aryna Sabalenka defended her Australian Open title and won the US Open, securing the year-end No. 1 ranking.

2024: Sabalenka's triumphant return to Wuhan

In 2024, Aryna Sabalenka returned to the Wuhan Open, securing her third title by defeating Zheng Qinwen in the final, marking her second WTA 1000 victory of the season.

2024: 2024 Madrid Open Final

In 2024, Iga Świątek defeated Aryna Sabalenka in three sets at the Madrid Open final, saving three championship points.

2024: Injury, Wimbledon Withdrawal and Cincinnati Open Win

In June 2024, Aryna Sabalenka suffered a right shoulder injury at the Berlin Ladies Open, forcing her to retire and later withdraw from the 2024 Wimbledon Championships. However, she rebounded to win the Cincinnati Open in August 2024, defeating Iga Świątek and Jessica Pegula.

2025: Indian Wells Performance

In 2025, Aryna Sabalenka participated in the Indian Wells tournament. She progressed through several rounds, defeating opponents like McCartney Kessler, Lucia Bronzetti, and Sonay Kartal. Sabalenka advanced to the semifinal after defeating Liudmila Samsonova, where she beat Madison Keys to reach the final. However, she lost to Mirra Andreeva in three sets.

2025: Brisbane International Title

In 2025, Aryna Sabalenka started the year by winning the Brisbane International, defeating Polina Kudermetova in the final to claim the 18th singles title of her career.