Aryna Sabalenka Opens Up About Heartbreaking Losses and Controversial Emotional Moments

Aryna Sabalenka has opened up about two of the hardest parts of her life in a deeply emotional interview with Vogue. The world No. 1 defended her emotional behaviour on the tennis court while also speaking about the pain she still carries after the death of her ex-boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov and her father, Sergey Sabalenka. The Belarusian star said her on-court outbursts are not something she is ashamed of because they help her stay mentally locked into matches. At the same time, she admitted that grief still hits her hard, even years after losing people closest to her.

Aryna Sabalenka explains emotional outbursts and says anger helps her stay focused

Aryna Sabalenka has become one of the biggest names in women’s tennis over the last few years. The 28-year-old has won four Grand Slam titles and climbed to world No. 1, but her emotional reactions during matches have also drawn attention. In recent tournaments, she was criticized after throwing a racket near a ball kid at the Wuhan Open and later shouting at a spectator during the Miami Open final. Looking back at her younger years on tour, Sabalenka admitted she struggled badly with controlling her emotions during matches. She said:

“I would get super emotional all the time. I was, like, under zero control. I could lead the match, then be super crazy and let it go. I knew that I had a problem.”

Still, the Belarusian star believes showing emotion is part of what makes her successful. She explained that top players always step onto the court expecting to win, and that mindset naturally brings pressure and frustration. Sabalenka said she no longer punishes herself for showing anger during matches because releasing those emotions helps her reset mentally and continue fighting through difficult moments. 

The tennis star also spoke about how much expectations change once players start winning major titles regularly. Instead of accepting losses easily, she believes elite athletes push themselves harder every single match. That pressure, according to Sabalenka, can sometimes come out in emotional ways on the court.

Aryna Sabalenka opens up on Konstantin Koltsov and father Sergey Sabalenka’s deaths

Away from tennis, Sabalenka also reflected on the heartbreaking personal losses she has faced in recent years. Her former boyfriend, Konstantin Koltsov, died in March 2024 after falling from a hotel balcony in Miami in what police described as an apparent suicide. Sabalenka was in the city preparing for the Miami Open when officers informed her about the tragedy during a practice session. The loss came only a few years after the death of her father, Sergey Sabalenka, who died from meningitis in 2019 at the age of 43. He was the person who first introduced her to tennis when she was a child in Minsk. 

Sabalenka revealed that she and her mother repeatedly tried to get medical help for him before he was finally taken to the hospital, but by then it was too late. Even while carrying that grief, Sabalenka continued competing on tour. Days after Koltsov’s death, she still played at the Miami Open and defeated close friend, Paula Badosa before losing to Anhelina Kalinina. Some people on social media questioned why she returned to the court so quickly, but Sabalenka said everyone handles pain differently.

Sabalenka said time has not fully healed the pain of losing her father because she often thinks about how proud he would have been to see her success today. Now engaged to Georgios Frangulis, she admitted that emotional moments still affect her deeply. Videos showing fathers supporting their athletic children or celebrating family moments often leave her in tears because they remind her of memories and moments her father never got the chance to experience with her.

What are your thoughts on Aryna Sabalenka’s emotional journey and her honest comments about life on and off the court? Let us know.

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Pic Credits: Aryna Sabalenka/Instagram