Aryna Sabalenka is a very serious tennis player, but once in a while, she lets loose a little bit, most notably after winning big trophies.
She plans to do that after winning the 2024 US Open as well. Sabalenka took a long time to finally win a Grand Slam because she’s always had the talent for it, but things never quite clicked for her.
It first happened last year at the Australian Open, where she won her maiden Grand Slam. It was an event at which she had played well over the years, having won the doubles Grand Slam trophy in Melbourne before, but she was finally able to win the singles title in 2023.
She had a chance to win a second Grand Slam trophy later that year at the US Open but was beaten by Coco Gauff in three sets. It was a brutal loss for Sabalenka, but she bounced back in Australia to win her second Grand Slam there.
After winning that one, she confirmed that she would celebrate the win with her team, and she did. Now, after winning her third Grand Slam at this year's US Open, Sabalenka was once again asked whether she would celebrate the victory.
She confirmed that she would. When asked how she would celebrate the win during an interview with ESPN, the World No. 2 simply responded that she and her team would most probably get drunk.
"We’re probably gonna drink a lot."
On a more serious note, Sabalenka said that she was overjoyed by the triumph, struggling to find words to explain her emotions shortly after the victory.
"I’m speechless. I can’t put two words together. I’m super happy. I remember all the tough losses here at the US Open. They say you’re gonna see the reason later. I see the reason right now. I had to go through tough lessons to hold this beautiful trophy. I think I’m the happiest person in the world right now."
Winning the first major was obviously very special for her, but winning these other two was also special. The reason is simple: it’s not easy to win any major, and quite a few players have struggled to follow up their first Grand Slam with another one.
She was able to secure the second one fairly quickly after the first, and now she’s added a third. That’s amazing for a player who, just two years ago, didn’t seem like she would win any, which would have been a shame because she’s always had the talent for it.
She’s now one of the most successful active players on the WTA Tour with three Grand Slam trophies, behind Venus Williams, who is technically still counted as an active player.
She’s also behind Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka, who have five and four major trophies, respectively, but Sabalenka is certainly making a strong case to be considered one of the best players of her generation, particularly in the past couple of years.
If that doesn’t warrant some celebrations and partying, then it’s hard to see what does.
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