Sabalenka's fury: grief, ghosts, and the brutal cost of victory
Aryna Sabalenka, the steely number one in the WTA rankings, has laid bare her tempestuous inner world in a candid Vogue interview, revealing a ferocious competitive drive and a volatile temperament that has long defined her on the court.
Battling demons, one slam at a time
The 28-year-old Belarusian confessed to a childhood struggle – a self-inflicted fury that threatened to derail her early career. “I used to get angry with myself,” she admitted, recalling a lack of control that could lead to spectacular meltdowns, even while holding a winning advantage. “I knew I had a problem.” Yet, Sabalenka insists this “bad necessity” is integral to her success, acknowledging the pressure to consistently dominate.
Speaking to Rob Haskell, she explained, “Everyone thinks, ‘Okay, I should win every match.’ If you don’t think that way, what are you doing? When you’re in the top five and you’re winning Grand Slams, you can’t just be okay with losing.” The relentless drive, she admits, stems from a deep-seated need to prove herself, fueling a battle waged both internally and externally.
A legacy of loss
But the intensity isn't solely born of ambition. Sabalenka’s words were laced with the raw grief of recent tragedies. The death of her ex-boyfriend, hockey player Konstantin Koltsov, in March 2024—a devastating suicide after a fall from a Miami hotel balcony—cast a long shadow. Sabalenka recounted a heated exchange with police upon being informed of the news, unable to accept the loss, stating, “I argued with the police; I couldn’t accept it.”
Despite the heartbreak, she channeled her pain into her sport, competing fiercely just days after the funeral, a stark image of a woman grappling with unimaginable loss. The pressure was immense, compounded by the sudden death of her father in 2019, a result of meningitis. “Sometimes you just need to let it go, empty it out to be ready to start again and play the match,” she said, revealing a vulnerability rarely glimpsed behind the steely facade. The videos of her family’s reaction to seeing her win – a recurring trigger – bring her to tears, a poignant reminder of the losses she continues to carry.
A new chapter
Now engaged to Georgios Frangulis, Sabalenka’s resilience is a testament to her unwavering spirit. Her journey, marked by both extraordinary success and profound sorrow, paints a portrait of a fierce competitor haunted by the ghosts of the past, yet determined to push forward. The relentless pursuit of victory, it seems, is not just a game; it’s a desperate attempt to outrun the demons that linger.