Aryna Sabalenka dedicated her maiden US Open victory to her family who "never gave up" on her dream. The Belarusian star triumphed over Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 at the Arthur Ashe Stadium to clinch her third Grand Slam title. The World No. 2 got over the disappointment of losing to Coco Gauff in last year's US Open final with a well-deserved victory.
Following her success, Sabalenka opened up about the personal challenges she faced, including the loss of her father five years ago and recently her former boyfriend. Despite these difficulties, she remains resolute in her goal. Grateful for her family's constant support, she is proud of her achievements and remains committed to her tennis ambitions.
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Sabalenka expresses gratitude to her family
Sabalenka has shared that following the loss of her father, her primary objective has been to solidify her family name in the history of tennis. Seeing her name engraved on the trophy brings her great pride. The former World No. 1 deeply values her own determination and the unwavering support of her family in pursuing this dream.
This opportunity holds immense significance in her life and has always been her lifelong ambition. Every time she releases the ball into the stands, she is reminded of the pivotal decision she made long ago - to wholeheartedly go for it in those crucial moments, to take the swing.
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"After I lost my father, it has always been my goal to put our family name in the history of tennis. Every time I see my name on that trophy, I'm so proud of myself, I'm proud of my family that they never gave up on my dream and that they were doing everything they could to keep me going. I had this opportunity in life so it means a lot. It has always been my dream," the 26-year-old said.
"Every time I stop my arms and the ball flies in the stands, so a long time ago I decided for myself in those important moments I just have to go for it, I have to swing," she added.
Watch the video below:
Aryna Sabalenka said beautiful words about her family after winning US Open
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 8, 2024
“After I lost my father, it was my goal to put our family name in the history of tennis. When I see my name on the trophy I’m proud of my family for not giving up on my dream”🥹
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