'You'll never make it' - Aryna Sabalenka slams 'brutal' youth coaches
Aryna Sabalenka reacts winning a point to Serbia's Olga Danilovic during their third round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium (Image via AP /Lindsey Wasson)
World number one Aryna Sabalenka may be a three-time Grand Slam winner but the Belarusian revealed Friday how she had been berated and told she would not succeed by coaches as a youngster.
On Friday, top-seeded Sabalenka eased into the French Open last 16 with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Serbia's Olga Danilovic on Court Philippe Chatrier.
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The 27-year-old Miami-based played spoke of the cultural difference of the coaching system in Eastern Europe. "I've always been quite motivated and they didn't have to push me," Sabalenka said. "But I have heard a lot saying I'm not smart enough, that I'm stupid, and I'll never make it, and I don't have anything to make it to the top.
I guess I want to send a quick message to them to quit their job, because honestly, I think they know nothing and they better quit just to save other players," said the player.
The Minsk native won back-to-back Australian Open titles in 2023 and 2024 and the US Open last year.
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She brushed aside 34th-ranked Danilovic in 79 minutes and next plays 16th-seeded American Amanda Anisimova for a place in the quarter-finals at Roland Garros.
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The Belarusian said she felt lucky with her coaching team.
"Off court it is important to surround yourself with the right people and have fun with your crew and that's what I'm doing," she said. "I am really grateful to have all of them on my team, we are like family. When I am on court, I am a completely different person, very focused, very aggressive. On the court it is about dreams and I give my all on court."
'Healthier environment'
Madrid Open winner Sabalenka has spoken this week of how "the environment and in the history of European countries, we are much tougher".
"I definitely think that the environment we have in our countries, which is like very tough and coaches are very brutal, you know, there is nothing nice about the way they work with their players, they (are) quite rude. I think that's why maybe our mentality is much stronger, but also, the same time, they kind of like broke so many players because of that aggressive mindset. I think in Europe and the States, the environment is much healthier.
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In Paris, Sabalenka refuses to consider herself a favourite in a tournament where she has never advanced past the semi-finals. "Let's just leave it (the pressure) on Iga (Swiatek) since she won it, what, three times in a row, really, right? Let's just... I will just leave it for her."
Amanda Anisimova leads Sabalenka 5-2 in previous meetings. The American is competing in her seventh French Open, having an impressive run to the semi-finals six years ago.
She beat Sabalenka in straight sets in the second round in 2019.
"When I first got here, I was getting some flashbacks and good memories," said the American who got past 22nd-seeded Dane Clara Tauson 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 in the third round.
"Obviously (she's) one of the best right now. She's No. 1. I really enjoy the fight and the challenge that she brings on," said the 23-year-old.
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