Aryna Sabalenka, the top-ranked female tennis player, has opened up about being subjected to relentless hate “for different reasons.” The Belarusian tennis star also explained how she has been able to shrug off the bitterness on social media.
Aryna Sabalenka Has Opened Up On Being ‘Shocked’ By Hateful Abuse Online
Sabalenka has opened up about the online abuse she has faced throughout her career, saying she has learned not to let it drain her energy.
“Throughout my career, I faced a lot of hate and a lot of different hate for different reasons,” Sabalenka said while interacting with the media as per Tennis 365. “I figured that the more you give attention to that, the more it takes energy from you.”
The four-time Grand Slam champion admitted that while she tries to ignore negative messages, curiosity sometimes gets the better of her. “Of course, I see those messages, and sometimes I go to the page of the person who messaged me,” she said. “Sometimes I’m shocked. Sometimes there’s like, mothers messaging such terrible things.”
Sabalenka added that many of these people seem to have little going on in their own lives, yet spend time attacking others who are trying to achieve something meaningful. “Sometimes you can just see the person is doing nothing and commenting on people who are trying to do something in life, who are trying to motivate and inspire the next generation,” she said.
Several tennis players have complained about being subjected to online abuse, primarily from members of the gambling community.
Earlier this year, British tennis star Katie Boulter told BBC Sport that the “disgusting” and “horrible” messages she receives online leave her feeling “very vulnerable.” She also shared screenshots of her private inbox, showing the extent of the abuse.
How Has Sabalenka Fared On The Courts In 2025?
Sabalenka opened 2025 by winning the Brisbane International, setting the tone for another strong campaign. At the Australian Open, she reached her third consecutive final without dropping a set, defeating Sloane Stephens, Mirra Andreeva, and Paula Badosa before falling to Madison Keys in three sets.
Her clay season peaked at Roland Garros, where she beat Zheng Qinwen and dethroned defending champion Iga Świątek en route to the final, finishing runner-up to Coco Gauff. On grass, she advanced to the Wimbledon semifinals, posting wins over Emma Raducanu and Elise Mertens before losing to Amanda Anisimova.
Sabalenka capped her Grand Slam campaign in style at the US Open, defeating Leylah Fernandez, Jessica Pegula, and Anisimova to claim her fourth major title and successfully defend her New York crown, becoming the first player since Serena Williams in 2014 to do so. Across 2025, Sabalenka reached all four Slam semifinals or better, cementing her reputation as the WTA’s most consistent performer.
Sabalenka will return to action at the WTA tournament in Wuhan, where she is a three-time defending champion.
View this post on Instagram
It would mark her first tournament since she defended her US Open title a month ago.
