“The mentality was completely wrong”

Belarus spoke with courage about the lessons learned, the mistakes committed and even addressed a delicate topic, the death of her father, during which time she says she felt “depressed”.

Aryna Sabalenka, a sincerity monument after the US Open final

“I received very harsh lessons at the beginning of the season. I lost a few Grand Slam finals, and winning it means a lot to defend my title. After the Australian Open, I thought that the right thing to do was to forget and move on, but then the same thing happened to Roland Garros. And again.

I was in Mykonos, I was reading the book, I was enjoying landscapes and I wondered: Why did I let my emotions dominate me in those two finals? I thought that if I arrive in the final, it means I would win it and I didn't expect the players to go out. I thought everything would go as I want, which was a completely wrong mentality

Arriving in the final, I decided to control my emotions. I was not going to let them dominate me, no matter what happened in the match. Whether I had a break at work or played incredible tennis. My mentality was simply to enter the field and fight for every point, regardless of the situation.

I just had to focus on myself and what I had to do to win the match. I learned the lesson and I hope it will not happen again if I play another final, so that I have more control.

When my dad died, I felt very depressed. It was a difficult time for me and my family, but at that time I decided to take it as a motivation to write our family name in history. I know he … I want to believe I feel his protection from above and I know it has become my power. Means a lot.

Mental health is very important. I work with a psychologist of four or five years. At first, it helped me a lot, especially to understand that everything is possible if you strive and dedicate your time and life to your dreams. He helped me a lot. Then I realized that I was dependent on her.

I thought, “Well, she has to heal me, she must give me an answer.” I did not take responsibility for my actions. I made the same mistake again and again and I was upset because she didn't help me, “said Sabalenka, after the match, quoted by Puntodebreak.com.

At one point, I decided that I had to take responsibility and solve the problem alone, reflecting, analyzing and understanding better. I think it worked very well, it was the right decision. Maybe one day I will feel that I need someone to talk to, I need someone to share things, that I need help.

At this moment, I am very proud of myself that I have assumed responsibility for my actions and helped me a lot to understand, to understand why I react to something. Simply understand myself better. It was a big change and that is why now, under pressure, I can manage my emotions much better because I better understand who I am

– Aryna Sabalenka, after the US Open final