Fresh off her second consecutive US Open triumph, Aryna Sabalenka is enjoying the kind of recognition that only comes with true greatness. After beating Amanda Anisimova in straight sets at Flushing Meadows, the 27-year-old not only collected $5 million in prize money but also etched her name alongside Serena Williams as one of the few players to defend the US Open title in the last decade.
Now, Sabalenka has received glowing praise from one of the game’s most iconic figures — Billie Jean King.
Speaking on the Welcome to the Party podcast, the legendary King shared what she admires most about the Belarusian star.
“What I love about you,” King told Sabalenka directly, “is that when you come out to play, you bring all of yourself. Every particle of your being, you bring. I would like to know how you get ready every time and every day for that, for every match?”
The words carried weight, not only because of King’s history as a pioneer of women’s tennis, but also because of the timing. Sabalenka has endured a rollercoaster 2025 season — heartbreaking losses in the Australian Open and French Open finals, a semi-final stumble at Wimbledon, and finally, sweet redemption in New York.
In typical fashion, Sabalenka answered with humility and passion. “I just love what I do,” she replied. “And I think when you love your job, you bring everything that you have. You are there, you are competing. You are just being you. I think that’s why. I think it’s important to be yourself and bring everything that you have on the court to be successful in your job.”
Her answer sums up the fiery, emotional brand of tennis that has made her a fan favourite. While others may talk about tactics and technique, Sabalenka is open about the emotional drive that fuels her performances.
While the New York spotlight still shines brightly, Sabalenka has already turned her focus to the next big challenge, the WTA Finals. Despite reaching the final in 2022, she has never lifted the trophy, and winning it would cap what has already been one of the defining seasons of her career.
Having played three of the four Grand Slam finals this year, Sabalenka is clearly entering her peak years. Her dominance at the top of the WTA rankings shows no signs of slowing down, and many pundits believe the titles will keep coming. Former pro Todd Woodbridge even predicted that several more majors could be on the horizon.
Billie Jean King’s words capture exactly why Sabalenka is such a force in today’s game. It’s not just her raw power or ranking at No. 1 it’s the way she throws her whole self into every point, every rally, every match.
For fans, that’s what makes Aryna Sabalenka unstoppable and for her opponents, it’s what makes her so dangerous.
