Key Takeaways
- Aryna Sabalenka reflected on enduring deep personal losses, including the passing of her father and her former boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov.
- Sabalenka acknowledged that returning to rigorous practice helped shield her from depression and provided a route to manage immense grief.
- The 28-year-old enters the China Open in Beijing as the second seed, meeting Renata Zarazua in the round of 64.
Processing grief through competition
Aryna Sabalenka has addressed the immense emotional strain she has navigated away from the tennis court, detailing how returning to competitive play helped her cope with deep personal tragedies. The Belarusian star lost her father in 2019 and endured further heartbreak in 2024 following the suicide of her former partner, retired NHL player Konstantin Koltsov.
Reflecting on those devastating periods, Sabalenka explained that pouring her energy into daily practice served as an essential coping mechanism to counter overwhelming sorrow. In an interview with TIME, she noted that “tennis really saved me from depression” as she poured herself into intense training sessions to prevent her mind from spiraling into dark thoughts.
Comparison table
| Entry | Value |
|---|---|
| Global Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Oct 02, 2026, 07 | 58 IST |
| 07 | 06 |
| 16 | 54 |
Navigating loss away from the court
The 28-year-old acknowledged that dealing with profound loss cannot be reduced to a single process. Sabalenka remarked that “there is no right and wrong” when people are forced to manage tragedy, pointing out that resuming her career was her individual path toward endurance.
Nevertheless, the pain of losing her father at an early stage of her life remains an ongoing emotional struggle. Sabalenka revealed that unexpected reminders often bring back deep tears in quiet moments at home, especially when encountering content online featuring athletes sharing celebratory achievements with their parents.
Focus turns to Beijing campaign
Even while carrying substantial emotional weight, the world-class competitor has consistently maintained her professional trajectory at the top of the women’s game. Sabalenka is currently directing her attention to the China Open, entering the Beijing WTA 1000 event as the second seed.
Having received an opening-round bye directly into the round of 64, she begins her tournament journey on the Diamond Court against Mexican opponent Renata Zarazua.
WTA Wuhan - Aryna Sabalenka's projected path
Aryna Sabalenka in 2026
Currently ranked no.2, the Belarussian played her last match on the 4th of October when she lost to world no.29 Nikola Bartunkova 6-4 6-3 in the 3rd round in Beijing (draw).
Currently, during this season the Belarussian has managed to achieve a compiled 47-10 record. The Belarussian has won 3 titles in 2026 in Brisbane, Indian Wells and Miami.
