"Before I was 12, I broke six or seven racquets": Aryna Sabalenka made parents crazy growing up with aggressive tennis habit

Aryna Sabalenka acknowledged that she used to anger her parents when she would break rackets during her development as a tennis player. The Belarusian successfully defended her Australian Open title by defeating Qinwen Zheng in the tournament final with a score of 6-3, 6-2. She became the first player to win the title without dropping a single service game since Serena Williams in 2007.

The World No. 2 has always emphasized her close relationship with her family and the significant role they played in her junior development and supporting her throughout her career. Sabalenka has now revealed that she was on the verge of quitting tennis but decided to continue competing for the sake of her family. "There was a moment where I was about to quit,” she said.

Sabalenka struggled to secure her first Grand Slam, facing disappointment in three semifinals between 2021 and 2022. The frustration led her to seriously consider quitting tennis: "I can’t keep going, it's too much. But I couldn't give up, because of my family and my father. I felt like I had to keep going and keep doing what I’m doing."

“I know that he wouldn’t accept that and he would be really pissed if he would hear that I was about to quit because I was tired of trying," she told Vogue Australia.

"My parents were always getting crazy because I was breaking the racquet. But the only thing they would say is they would never be pissed at me if you give it your all and you fight for every point. For them, it didn’t matter if I was losing or winning, it’s about giving it all. And not breaking the racquets," Aryna Sabalenka said with a laugh.

"The only thing they got mad at me was breaking the racquets. Before I was 12 years old, I broke six or seven racquets, which is a lot," she added.

Only four players have successfully defended their Aussie Open title during the 21st century: Americans Jennifer Capriati (2001-2002) and Serena Williams (2009-2010), as well as Belarusian Victoria Azarenka (2012-2013).

"I think the best thing was I was able to handle pressure really well and compete at such a high level with all the pressure, which was the best thing I did over the last couple of weeks. It’s been a really tough couple of weeks and I’m really happy I was able to get through," Aryna Sabalenka said.

"I still think that the first one is the sweetest one, because it’s really tough to get the first one, and all the emotions and the things outside the court. But this one was really sweet and super special. It’s hard to describe what I’m feeling right now, it’s a combination of happiness, being exhausted, being super excited and I can’t wait to come back," she added.