Fresh off one of the most dominant stretches of her career, Aryna Sabalenka offered a rare glimpse into her mindset off the court, admitting that she does carry regrets. While her results in 2026 have painted the picture of near perfection, the world No. 1 struck a reflective tone when asked about her personal journey.
Aryna Sabalenka’s Dominant Run at the 2026 Sunshine Double
Her comments came at a time when she had been nearly untouchable on the court. Sabalenka recently delivered a historic performance during the 2026 “Sunshine Double,” becoming only the fifth woman in tennis history to win both Indian Wells and the Miami Open in the same calendar year. This achievement capped off a nearly perfect month for the world No. 1, who entered April with a dominant 23-1 season record.
At the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Sabalenka secured her first-ever title in the California desert by defeating Elena Rybakina in the final. After losing her first set of the tournament, Sabalenka clawed back for a 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6) victory. On her path to the final, she reached the championship match without dropping a single set, dispatching several notable players along the way.
Her journey through the draw included wins over Himeno Sakatsume in the second round, Jaqueline Cristian in the third, and a straight-sets victory over former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka in the round of 16. In the latter stages, she defeated the teenage sensation Victoria Mboko in the quarterfinals and Linda Nosková in the semifinals.
Moving to the Miami Open, Sabalenka successfully defended her 2025 title and completed the elusive sweep. After a first-round bye, she defeated Americans Ann Li and Caty McNally in the early rounds. In the second week, she overcame Zheng Qinwen in the round of 16 and Hailey Baptiste in the quarterfinals.
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For the second time in two weeks, she faced Rybakina, this time in the semifinals, and secured a more straightforward 6-4, 6-3 win. In the final, she held off a comeback from home favorite Coco Gauff, winning 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. This victory made Sabalenka the first player since Ashleigh Barty to defend a Miami title and allowed her to join the ranks of Steffi Graf, Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka, and Iga Świątek as a Sunshine Double champion.
Aryna Sabalenka Discusses Regrets Despite Dominant Form
Despite that level of dominance, Sabalenka acknowledged her personal shortcomings. In an interview with Esquire magazine, she was asked a simple question about regrets.
“I have a lot of regrets. I think we all do. Mistakes make us better people,” she said. She continued by emphasizing that imperfection is essential to growth, adding, “It’s tough to be the person without regrets and mistakes. You better stay away from those people.”
The interview came shortly after Sabalenka withdrew from the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart due to an unspecified injury. She is expected to appear at the upcoming WTA 1000 tournament, the Madrid Open, which runs from April 21 to May 3.
