How Sabalenka grew stronger by confronting her fears

Recently, Sabalenka’s fitness coach Stasi recalled in an interview with Dr. Kristen Holmes, host of "The Line," the moment when Sabalenka returned to training at the US Open after recovering from COVID-19. The image remains clear: this fierce competitor, now a force in tennis, was at that time seized by a fear almost like that of a child; she feared she would never play tennis again. For a top athlete who conquers courts through strength and willpower, this profound fear of losing her skills revealed a hidden, fragile crack beneath her powerful exterior.

Sabalenka’s fear did not arise from nowhere. As coach Stasi observed, it is deeply rooted in her cultural background and upbringing. It’s a survival philosophy instilled in her: to trust no one easily and to keep goals unspoken, because once spoken, they risk being taken away. This mindset forged her ironclad independence and stubbornness, serving as her armor in climbing to the top. Yet this armor also trapped her, making her accustomed to locking away doubts, struggles, and vulnerabilities inside, facing the world’s pressures and inner storms alone. The physical halt caused by COVID-19 acted like a key that unexpectedly unlocked this tightly shut door, unleashing the ultimate fear of losing everything.

From this perspective, the most crucial evolution in Sabalenka’s career may not be a technical improvement, but an internal “door-opening” revolution. Stasi’s advice to “open the door a crack and allow yourself to be a little more vulnerable” proved transformative. For elite athletes, vulnerability is often taboo, seen as a weakness that leads to failure. But psychologically, acknowledging vulnerability and confronting fear are essential steps toward integrating the self and gaining true strength. Sabalenka needed to learn not to shut the door tighter against fear, but to gently push it open in a safe, trusting environment, letting light and support reach those dark corners. This small but brave opening meant she began to accept that true strength is not innate invincibility but the courage to move forward despite knowing one’s limits.

This inner struggle parallels her transformation on the court. The Sabalenka who once overwhelmed opponents with signature roars and thunderous shots remains technically formidable. Yet as she gradually learned to lower some defenses in front of her team and allowed her coaches to reach her psychological vulnerabilities, her game gained new dimensions: calmer decision-making under pressure, greater resilience in adversity, and better emotional regulation. From the depths of self-doubt to becoming world number one and claiming four Grand Slam titles, this path of glory is also a journey of turning inner fears into driving forces. Every stroke is not just a release of skill and physical power, but a continual surpassing of old mental demons.

Now aiming for her third Australian Open title, Sabalenka is no longer the girl afraid of losing her tennis skills. Yet her deepest fear—losing everything—may not have vanished completely but has been tamed and transformed into a vigilant and motivating drive for excellence. Her story offers a more nuanced and authentic definition of true strength: it is not an impenetrable fortress free of fear, but the conscious choice to live alongside fear and move forward with it. The once tightly closed door within her now opens and closes freely. Inside lies the self she must protect and nurture; outside awaits the limitless vista of the world’s summit and the next court to conquer.

Sabalenka’s journey teaches us that the strongest fortresses are sometimes built on foundations of acknowledged vulnerability. For this tennis superstar, opening that inner door was the most important match she ever won.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Mei)