Aryna Sabalenka discussed the need to express her emotions during matches on a recent episode of Andy Roddick’s podcast.
Sabalenka is undoubtedly one of the most graceful losers on the WTA Tour. She always congratulates her opponents at the net and does not speak bitterly after defeats.
Serena Williams’ former coach Rennae Stubbs recently compared Sabalenka to Qinwen Zhengwho also does not accept defeats. The Australian doubts whether Zheng will learn to be kind like Sabalenka.
However, Sabalenka, who used to be told she had no talent can sometimes become emotional during matches due to her tough style, although she is always friendly afterwards. She does not hide her frustrations in challenging moments.
At first it may seem worrying as Sabalenka gets angry and yells at her team. Such actions are often associated with not being as mentally strong as players who remain calm during matches.
But Sabalenka rejects that assumption. Speaking on Served With Andy Roddick, she agreed with the host, who also believes that showing emotion on the pitch should not automatically be equated with a lack of mental strength.
“I absolutely agree with you that calmness does not show mental toughness. For some people it works. It’s not like there’s only one way. Some people are just the way they are. They keep everything inside.”
Sabalenka said suppressing her emotions in the heat of the moment doesn’t work, and she’s learned that’s not who she is.
“For me personally, I don’t know. For years I tried to map out my emotions. Everyone told me to keep it inside, to stay calm, to be like that player, just like a no-emotions player, but This is not who I am.”
This year’s WTA year-end No. 1 is aware of humorous videos that exist online of her getting angry on the court, but the three-time Grand Slam champion knows she’s going crazy internally when she tries to stay calm .
“And we talked to the team and that’s why sometimes you see those funny videos where I’m yelling at my team, throwing the racket at the US Open, which I actually didn’t throw. I tried to pass the racket to my coach, but whatever.”
“And we have emotional moments, and it works for me because if I hold it all in, I go crazy and it becomes so heavy inside. I can’t think straight.”
Sabalenka is right that different approaches are needed depending on the player. On the ATP Tour, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray are two of the strongest mental players in tennis history, and they regularly had outbursts and showed emotion on the court.
Players like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Sabalenka’s rival Iga Swiatek, on the other hand, are much calmer. The results of these tennis legends prove that both approaches can work.
The differences in playing styles and temperaments in Sabalenka and Swiatek’s matches are part of what makes their rivalry so exciting and why women’s tennis still has many exciting years ahead.