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There have been heartbreaking losses for Aryna Sabalenka this year.
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But all of the emotions she felt, that she was composed, richly deserved win.
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Aryna Sabalenka gets her Grand Slam title and another US Open trophy.
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The number one health and wellness podcast. Jay Shetty. Jay Shetty.
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The one the only Jay Shetty.
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Aryna Sabalenka, congratulations.
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I am so excited to have you here.
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I've been looking forward to this for such a long time.
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I got to be at the game on Saturday.
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You were absolutely incredible.
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I can't believe we have you here 48 hours after you just won this incredible trophy, the US Open women's final was unbelievable.
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Congrats and thank you for doing this.
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>> Thank you for having me.
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I think I'm more excited than you are.
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I've been watching your podcast and following you for I don't know for how long.
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So, I'm probably more excited than you.
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That that that feels really good to me, the fact that you watch it.
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It means the world to me, but honestly I've I've been really excited watching you live.
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There was nothing like it.
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The attitude, the personality, the amazing sportsmanship, like just incredible play.
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It was fantastic to watch, truly.
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Yeah, it was it was a great match and I really really happy that you enjoyed watching it and yeah, you had fun.
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How does it feel when you're winning Grand Slam after Grand Slam?
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This is the second time you've won the US Open in a row.
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Does it feel different from the first time? Does it feel the same?
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Like what goes through your mind and heart?
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Like every time you win the Grand Slam, every time is an incredible feeling and every time is just you feel like it's the biggest thing that happened to you and I feel like it's all depends on the situation in life and stuff because this isn't a struggle a lot.
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So, I feel like this time it feels like like it happened for the first time, you know, like it's like it's my first Grand Slam.
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So, it's it's a big moment and I feel like really tough after getting this this beauty.
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Actually, thank you for bringing it here. This is amazing. >> Of course. What do you mean?
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This is the first trophy ever on On Purpose.
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So, this is a a special one for me. >> be the first one.
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What what were you What were you struggling with this year?
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Like when you say like I was struggling this year, that's why it feels like a relief.
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What were you struggling with?
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Like What were you going through?
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>> Yeah, I mean, I played early in the season I played two Grand Slam finals in Australia and um in Paris.
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And I lost those two finals and I like they consider me favorite.
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So, I kind of like, you know, I thought that I felt like, okay, it's coming my way.
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I was so excited, but then I would lose in the final and I was sort of like really sad and like it was really tough to go through those tough lessons, tough losses and and getting this this trophy means a lot.
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That means that I learned the lesson, I became a better player, I have better control over my emotions and I'm super happy that I was able to win this trophy.
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Obviously, you've just won and we'll talk about that.
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I want to know what do you do when you lose?
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Because losing is so much harder, it hurts, so much more painful, it hurts so deeply. Like What do you do? Do you analyze the game? Do you feel angry?
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Like what what are the emotions that you go through when you've lost a game, lost a final?
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>> A final, you know, I think it's all about like losing in the final it hurts more because, you know, you're getting so close to your dream and then it's like it feels like it's sort of like slips away, if I can say like that.
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So, you you're really depressed and me personally, I want to leave the place as soon as possible just so I like forget it.
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But then I need like some time to sit back, to analyze, to like, you know, to to actually learn the lesson.
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So, um it takes some time to process the losses.
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How long before you can watch the game back when you've lost?
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I have to be honest, I I never watched my like >> Wow. finals that I lost.
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I let my team do that and bring me on the plate, okay, you like you did this, this, and this wrong.
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I know like mentally, emotionally what I did wrong and where I made the mistake in like the way I approached the the final or what was my mindset.
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I know this part, but like the tennis part, I let my team figure it and they bring it, they tell me, I remember because I don't want to watch it.
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I don't want to see myself there losing and of course like the finals that I lost earlier this season, I was like not behaving my best and I hate seeing myself being not not the kindest person.
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So, I never watch my Yeah, that's really interesting.
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I I also imagine when you're watching yourself back, it can kind of make you repeat that behavior sometimes as well.
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Like it's like if you Yeah.
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>> watch something closely enough, you almost like you keep pushing the wound.
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It's like you keep pressing on that scar if that makes sense. >> Yes, yes. Exactly.
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You just want to learn it, you know, like make sure that it's never going to happen again and forget it like like a nightmare because yeah, I feel like watching it back and something that you wanted to forget badly.
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So, I feel like for me for for my mental health is better not to watch it. Yeah.
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Who's the first person after you win or lose that you want to talk to, that you want to hug, that you want to call?
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Like who's is the first I run to my team straight away.
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I run to my team because I know the the work they they they put it in for this win.
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So, I run there and I I hug my boyfriend first of course, then my team and because I know how much of of a work they've done to uh to make sure that I'm able to compete on such high level.
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And then and then I messaged my family. Nice.
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Yeah, let me talk to me about We were just talking about this offline.
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You were just saying, you know, this morning you're on the Today show.
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You're like >> you I'm sure you have a million interviews to do today.
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It's been 48 hours since you've won.
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But like people forget that these tournaments are played in like these really tight time frames.
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Like this was 2 weeks, right? US Open. >> Yeah, 2 weeks. >> It's really intense.
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You're playing all these games, multiple sets, really challenging.
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Like the pressure's all compressed into this short timeline.
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Like talk to us about the preparation as a team, as an individual, for the intensity of the 2 weeks that the games are being played in. Well, yeah.
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I mean, we also have tournaments that leads to the to the Grand Slam.
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And then you have like a week before the Grand Slam where you come to the place where you're going to compete and you practice, train, but also you have a lot of um like friends dinners, like meetings, some interviews as well.
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So, people doesn't know that before the Grand Slam there is like a week um, really busy week, full of uh uh, meetings, dinners, um, and and this this kind of stuff, which is also not easy to handle.
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And and also your training during that period.
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And then the tournament starts and then there is another pressure which you deal with.
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But the preparation it's all about, you know, of course, physically there is like tennis, there's gym, there's fitness, all of this stuff, but also mentally you're preparing yourself for like really tough 2 weeks, 2 weeks of a great tennis, hopefully, because you never know.
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But also 2 weeks of fighting, like fighting for your dream.
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And like mentally you have this constant conversation in your head.
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Like you're going to do that. You're capable of it. You're strong enough.
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So, you're like really if I feel like if someone would hear like my conversation in my head throughout like this 3-weeks period, they would think that okay, there's this is something like something wrong with this person because it's constant conversation.
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Talk to us about that self-talk because I think we forget that right now we're all so obsessed with the conversation online.
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Like we're looking at what Twitter's saying, X is saying, we're looking at what you know, social media and then you forget Yeah.
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that the real conversation is happening inside the champion's head. >> Exactly. Yeah.
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>> Walk us through what that conversation looks like.
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Like what are the ups and downs?
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What are the shifts in that inner dialogue?
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>> Well, I mean, I think it's absolutely normal to feel nervous before big tournaments and I think that every athlete feel nervous.
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Every athlete doubt uh doubting his um I don't know, ability.
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Will he be able to do that again or like how it's going to go?
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Because you never know, like uh sport is such a beautiful thing that you go out there and you don't know how you're going to feel.
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Will the will the game works?
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Like will will you feel great or bad or what what you you'll have to deal with because, you know, people look from the outside and they doesn't know, for example, I don't feel my serve.
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Like I don't like I feel uncomfortable doing something on court and I have to like deal with that.
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So, before the tournament, I prepare myself that I'm ready to handle anything.
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Like I'm just talking that it's normal.
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I'm just trying to kind of like settle those those like thoughts in my head.
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Not by trying to like make them go away because I feel like the moment when you try to make things go away, they actually like growing more and it it's it's like more and it's uh not easy to handle.
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So, I'm just trying to tell myself it's okay to feel that. It's okay to think that. It's absolutely okay. Everyone thinks that.
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It's all about you going out there and fighting no matter what and like constantly having this conversation in your head throughout 2 weeks, it's tough. Yeah.
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>> tough, but but I kind of like love it. >> Yeah.
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Yeah, you've you've learned to enjoy it.
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>> No, I'm just so grateful to have opportunity to experience of that of all of that.
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Not everyone have this opportunity in life.
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So, I'm just so grateful and I big opportunities is also like big uh big responsibility, big pressure.
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But not everyone have that opportunity.
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So, you got to be grateful for that.
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>> Yeah, that's beautiful.
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I You reminded me of that famous quote that says what you resist persists. Yeah.
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>> That idea that if you're trying to get rid of a thought or trying to get rid of a feeling, it just expands. Exactly.
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>> And it takes up more space.
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And as soon as you accept it, >> Yeah. you're fine.
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When you reject it, it just gets bigger, it gets harder, but when you >> that's not the key. Absolutely.
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When when you accept that, of course I'm of course it's natural to feel nervous. Of course Yeah.
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>> everyone's feeling uncomfortable, everyone's feeling stressed out.
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All of a sudden it kind of calms you. Yeah.
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Whereas when you think that oh, I'm the only one, everyone else looks so calm and confident, but I'm stressed out.
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That's why we all get >> I think that was my like my main mistake when I was just like starting playing tennis.
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I I thought that I'm the only one who feel that.
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And I would like focus too much on that.
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So, I would forget about like my opponent and I would uh struggle a lot at the beginning of my career.
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But then the moment when I realized like and I that everyone experience that and I start seeing that on in my opponent and I was like, okay, then it's normal.
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Then we both in the same situation.
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We both dealing with the same things and it's all about who's going to do that better. Yeah.
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So, it's actually like a trick I feel like uh like mind trick. Like just accept it. Mhm. Yeah.
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What what's the what's the hardest thing about being a champion? About being number one? For you? I don't know.
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I don't know what's hard I mean I think there is nothing like when you call someone like champion, when you hear the champion is like how can I actually complain about anything?
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Like if you're like if you won like a trophy, like there is nothing to complain about. Yeah.
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Yeah, I loved when you came out after you've won and you had the champagne bottle.
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You had the I was like I was like that sponsor must be really happy Arena like I was like that was like the best reaction ever.
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I should have came with the with the tequila because I sponsor by tequila.
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>> Not with champagne but but you know, you got to celebrate it.
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You got to enjoy it because you know, the hard work is done.
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Now it's time to, you know, celebrate it. >> Yeah, yeah.
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I was thinking I was thinking about the moment.
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I don't know if you remember that tournament where Ronaldo hit the Coca-Cola and he put the water up.
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Did you ever see that interview? No.
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So this is a press conference a few years ago and it was Cristiano Ronaldo, football player, and they'd put Coca-Cola in front of him and he put it away and he said drink water, don't drink Coca-Cola and Coca-Cola stock price went down that day. Like it was crazy.
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So I was like you just took Moët champagnes like stock price must have like Probably. We need to check it out.
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>> Yeah, the ski goggles, too.
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I was like it was amazing. It was so funny.
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I didn't know that I'm going to look that funny. I look great.
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I just came straight from the locker room where they sprayed like I don't know how much of a bottle of of champagne on me.
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It was It was It was a fun moment.
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Yeah, I think celebrate Do you know what?
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I I was so happy to hear you say I want to celebrate I want to have fun because I think we forget and sometimes you need to see the number one person in the world say I need to celebrate because I think this applies to everyone.
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Wherever you are at your stage in life, we don't celebrate any milestones. Yes.
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>> And then when you don't see the people at the top celebrate, you kind of think oh well what what permission do I have to celebrate?
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So I feel like you gave everyone permission to say, you know what? It's okay.
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Well You have to Exactly, you have to celebrate. Absolutely.
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Especially when you In my case, like losing the finals, losing some some tough matches, dealing dealing with some struggles, you know, when you finally able to win something big for you, I think it's important to celebrate that moment because you never know when this moment going to going to happen again.
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So, you you you have to celebrate.
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It doesn't matter in which industry in life you are.
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Uh whatever achievement you achieve, like you have to go and and and just have a little moment for yourself. Yeah.
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Do you Do you take a moment to yourself as well to celebrate on your own?
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Like what does that look like?
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What does that personal celebration look like?
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I usually celebrate with my team, with the people around me because, you know, it's not like it was done only by me, you know?
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I I've done it with the help of people.
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So, I feel like it's it's not only my trophy, it's our trophy.
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But my celebration is like one again in my head.
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I just tell myself, "Okay, I'm proud.
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I'm proud to to be able to handle uh have this trophy." Yeah.
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I think it's important to have that inner celebration as well. Yeah.
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Because I love that you just said that.
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I sit down and go, "I'm proud to have this trophy." Yeah.
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Like I feel like we're constantly looking for validation outside.
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And when you win something like this, of course, the whole world that loves tennis and loves you is validating you, which is a beautiful feeling. Of course.
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But I love that you said that you actually sit there and say, "I'm proud of this trophy for myself" because I feel like that inner validation is something no one can take away from you and something that stays with you long after.
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Yeah, because like only I know like uh what I had to go through, how tough it was, and uh how it all started, and you know, like this is important to, you know, appreciate it. Yeah, it's beautiful.
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This has happened hap- happening for a reason.
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I need to change something, you know?
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And and I think you have to go through these tough challenges to see to see why why happened to you.
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It's only about sport and everything in life.
15:25
Confidence it's it's it's uh it's a process, you know, you building this confidence like step-by-step like by waking up the like the early morning by showing up uh somewhere you didn't want to, you know, like and like slowly building your confidence.
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It's all about like these little little steps.
15:44
I think love is something that you cannot really explain, right?
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You just you just feel complete with the person, right?
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You just feel comfortable.
15:55
You you're not doubting anything. You're having fun.
15:58
You love everything about the person, good and because everyone have good and bad parts, right? So, you love everything.
16:06
And I think that's something that gives you that feeling that I don't know that like that warm in your heart.
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16:57
I want to go back, Irena, because I feel like I was watching a lot of your interviews when I was preparing for this.
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And I know we've been messaging for a while on Instagram, too.
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And so, I was thinking about it.
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I was like, I actually don't think a lot of people know your journey and know your story that deeply.
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I think people know a little bit here and there, but on on purpose, that's what we like to do.
17:12
We love to know how people found their purpose, became yeah, became who they were and so I wanted to ask you like what is a childhood memory that you have or a memory that you can recall that you feel defines who you are today that has impacted the person that you are today?
17:31
You know, I have so many great memories but I remember watching my dad being really like funny guy, the guy who would just you know make everyone feel happy and smile and I would I remember I would just look at him and think oh my god I want to become this kind of person being like just like a positive person like the person who brings like positive vibes everywhere she goes.
17:55
So I think that's why I'm like quite I have this quite funny personality.
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Is that where that playfulness comes from? Uh yeah. Watching your dad? Yeah, yeah.
18:05
And another story but but this story it's not like I remember that but it I think it's perfectly shows my personality.
18:10
When I was a kid and someone came to me because I was grunting while hitting the ball and someone came to me calling me Sharapova and I looked at the person saying like no I'm future Sabalenka you know. I was a kid.
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I was like what nine or or 10 and saying that I was just like when when my my mom told me the story I kind of like was proud of myself.
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I love it and and to me it's all your even when I was watching you on Saturday to me it's all your micro expressions.
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Like you just have this face that can just like make so many different angles and faces and I'm like just watching you just I was telling you about a moment earlier as well like Amanda played an amazing shot the other day and and and you just like turned around and you're like clapping it on the side and I was like It was a great shot. >> a great shot. It was amazing.
18:58
It's just it's all these micro things but you're saying your dad inspired all of this like that.
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>> Yeah, my personality yeah I think 100% comes from my dad.
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Yeah and he was also the one who introduced you to tennis is that right? yeah. me through that.
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How did he discover tennis?
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How did he introduce it to you?
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It's actually by not like accident, but he was just like trying to find some activity for me because I was very active kid, and he wanted me to be busy and to do stuff.
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And he was trying to find a sport for me, and he was just like passing by the tennis court.
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He was like, "Well, why not just try it?"
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So, I tried it, and I loved it, and that's how it started. >> That's crazy.
19:35
Was Was he good at tennis? No, no, no.
19:38
He used to play ice hockey, but then he had a bike crash.
19:40
So, uh he was afraid to come back in sport. >> Oh, wow. So, yeah.
19:45
It was a quite a bad injury that he had. >> a very bad injury.
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He barely survived when he was 18 or 19.
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So, and since then, he didn't want to come back to sport because he was afraid that it was it will affect his health.
19:58
Did he do anything to help you feel confident about tennis?
19:59
So, what was that relationship like?
20:01
Because I heard in another interview, you said you said it was quite funny that you didn't actually think you got good at tennis until you were like 16, 17 years old. Yeah.
20:10
And so, that's a long time if you started playing tennis quite early, and you only felt really good at 16, 17.
20:17
What was happening between that age when you started playing and No, but I was I was pretty good.
20:21
I was winning these local tournaments all the time.
20:23
I was pretty good, and my dad would always just say, "Just as long as you just go out there and you fight and you give your your best, you're good."
20:30
He didn't care like if I win or lose.
20:32
So, so he was like a really great supporter.
20:36
Uh but I realized at 16, 17 that I can be maybe good like internationally, you know, like going going for those uh back then it was like 10,000 event like a women's sport, you know, like WTA.
20:46
It started like Actually, I think it was like ITF or something like because I started from like 10,000, 25, 50, 100.
20:55
So, like slowly made my way to WTA tennis. So, yeah.
20:59
Back then, I I thought like maybe maybe I can go can be good when you compare yourself to like other athletes.
21:05
So, so that's why probably yeah.
21:07
Who did you grow up watching?
21:08
Who are the people that you admired?
21:10
Cuz you already said you were like, "Now I'm going to be future Sabalenka."
21:13
But You know, it's so funny because I think back then it wasn't that much of a social media, so I didn't have like like an iPhone, you know, to go to Instagram and and and watch other athletes.
21:25
And I was just like I was training the whole I was going to school, I was training, and then I was just like having fun with my friends outside.
21:32
So I I was never like watching TV or or any internet much, so I didn't really look up to someone, you know?
21:41
Like of course I I've seen like Serena dominating like there and there, so then I I was like thinking like, "I wish I could become like like her one day, you know?"
21:53
So, but no, I wasn't like really look looking up to someone, and like this question question makes me feel really terrible as a person.
21:59
Like I feel like everyone have their like idol, someone they look up to, and I I never have someone.
22:05
But I think the answer is just like because we didn't have that social media.
22:08
We didn't have like something that you just grab and you look and okay, and you see this this life.
22:13
No, I I mean I I didn't I didn't want to make you feel bad by asking you.
22:18
I was just saying >> didn't make me bad.
22:19
I'm just I'm just saying I don't No, and I I almost think there's something beautiful about it because I think sometimes sometimes watching people can inspire us, but sometimes not having that can actually help you find yourself. Yeah.
22:30
Like not having access Even I mean, when I was growing up, I'm I'm 10 years older than you, but when I was growing up, I was reading books about people because I couldn't follow them on social media either.
22:40
So I read David Beckham's autobiography when I was like 16, 17 years old, and then I read Steve Jobs's biography much later.
22:46
And so I was reading about people that I was fascinated by at a young age, but I didn't get to watch clips of them or or whatever else it may be.
22:54
And I think there's something beautiful about that because then you get to define who you are, and sometimes you can get caught comparing yourself to people.
23:02
I think social media has made it so hard for young athletes or young anyone. >> Yeah, yeah.
23:08
>> You're looking at everyone going, "Oh, I wish I was more like that.
23:09
I wish I looked like that. I wish I had that game."
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You know, and so >> It's kind of nice to not have that actually sometimes because you're free of >> It's It's It's a good and a bad thing at the same time, right?
23:19
Like you you see more stuff, you learn more, but at the same time you can compare yourself to people and and then feel bad about yourself for some reason.
23:26
So, it's like It can bring like really strong insecureness in you. So, I don't know.
23:30
I think it's important to find something that you love, you truly love.
23:33
Not like because you see like social media post and you think, "Oh, I want to I want to live that life." But do you really?
23:39
You know, you have to find some something that you love.
23:43
And I think if you do what you love and you passion and you dedicate your life to that and you do everything you can to become successful in any area, I think that's that's the the way to go, you know.
23:55
Well said, yeah, absolutely.
23:55
I feel like it's so because winning the trophy is 1% of your life.
24:04
The other 99% is what we don't see.
24:06
We're just seeing the 2 weeks of the tournaments or whatever it may be.
24:09
>> the whole life, you know. >> up.
24:11
It's the Walk me through your morning routine.
24:12
Like what does your routine look like?
24:14
How do you set yourself up? During the tournament?
24:18
>> a game day and a non-game day.
24:18
Well, the game day depends on the match once again, but I like to sleep in.
24:25
I need to have a good recovery.
24:27
Uh but then I take it easy if it's like evening match. I take it easy.
24:29
I do like some uh mobility in the gym like to wake me up.
24:34
I mean, of course, breakfast before, lunch. Then I go on site. I do my warm-up again. I do tennis hit.
24:42
And and then there's a match game.
24:42
And when it's a not match day, then it's like even uh longer sleep, later wake up, and um easy start, little bit of a hit, and then it's a treatment, recovery process, and then it's a dinner.
24:59
I love to go out for dinners. Nice.
25:01
Did I read somewhere that you meditate as well or have tried before?
25:04
Do you practice any sort of meditation or work with a sports psychologist as well?
25:08
>> I work with a sports psychologist for 4 or 5 years. Wow.
25:11
We did some sort of meditation.
25:16
Uh Uh we did Yeah, we did a lot of uh things at the beginning of my career.
25:21
Uh but then, you know what I found that I was relying on her so much. She was a woman.
25:26
I I was relying on her so much.
25:29
So, I I I was expect expecting her to fix my problems, like my emotions.
25:37
So, and I and I was like repeating the same mistake over and over again, and I was like getting upset about that.
25:44
So, at some point I decided, "Okay, I have to take responsibility over my actions."
25:48
And I stopped working with psychologist, and that was the moment when I started like learning about myself, when I actually um understood myself better, and I start I I start to control my emotions much better, and I felt like more balanced when I like took that responsibility. Yeah.
26:08
>> So, it was I think for me personally was it was a great move, but you never know like maybe one day I'm going to come back to uh get back to um psychology, meditation, and on all of that stuff.
26:20
I think that's the right process though with anything.
26:21
I feel like it's learn Learn, yeah.
26:24
>> and then you have to go lead yourself.
26:27
And it's learn and then lead yourself.
26:28
And I think the challenge is if you constantly remain a student, then you're always dependent.
26:32
And I think anything we become dependent on controls us, and then we're subject to how good we feel that day.
26:38
But when you learn something and then you go and try it, and you practice and you play it, then you get to see whether you actually internalized it.
26:45
And so, I think that is a good process.
26:47
I feel like for anyone who's practicing any sort of coaching, therapy, psychology, it's great to be able to learn and then go test all the stuff in the real world and and then see where it goes back rather than keep it there forever because then you almost someone's holding your hand the whole time and then you keep holding tighter and tighter and tighter.
27:06
>> it's good to like, you know, go back and forth like work with psychologist but then go out there and and try to figure it by by your by yourself and then the moment you feel like you need to talk to someone and you need to find some Yeah, some some answers.
27:19
So, yeah, it's it's it's always a learning process, right?
27:24
Like as long as they're good for you, it's great. Yeah.
27:28
How would the people that know you beyond tennis, personally, deeply, intimately?
27:33
How would they describe you?
27:35
What would they say about you?
27:37
Oh, I don't like to talk about myself, but I feel like they would they would say that I'm very kind, funny, of course, and very generous and I think I mean, yeah, I think that's that's how they would describe me.
27:50
I mean, that's what I hope they're going to describe.
27:51
That's what I We have to check with them.
27:54
>> Maybe they're going to just say, "Okay, you know what? She's She's crazy.
27:55
Like you better just stay away."
27:59
Who knows, but I That's That's my hopes. Yeah. Yeah.
28:01
Funny, kind, and generous is a good is a good good three. I like this.
28:06
Well, this is just how I see myself, but reality is different. We'll check afterwards. I'll ask a few people. Ask a few people.
28:16
How much does your life off the court, in your personal life, impact your life on the court?
28:20
Well, I think anyway everything is, you know, kind of like works together.
28:24
So, um but I think it's all about like balancing your off-the-court and on-the-court life cuz I feel like on the court I'm like really aggressive. I'm so focused.
28:33
I'm like I'm just chasing my dreams.
28:36
So, I feel like people who doesn't know me, they can they can say that I'm super crazy person and super aggressive on and off the court, but it's not who I am.
28:45
I feel like off the court I'm I'm I'm more fun and I love to have fun and you know, you have to balance.
28:52
You have to like put the hard work in, but also you have to go and and and enjoy and do things that brings you brings you joy because then when you feel feel balanced and feel like you're enjoying your life, then you you're you're able to go out there and to you know, bring everything you have and to fight and to to be focused.
29:11
Yeah, I feel I feel tennis has done so much.
29:17
Hopefully to start leveling the playing field with men and women.
29:19
Have you ever felt that divide personally while playing?
29:22
Like do you feel the pressure that everyone in the media puts on the sports of like you know, men and women are not equal. There's this challenge.
29:30
Like have you felt that or do you feel you that doesn't really cross your mind? How do you process that?
29:36
I'm trying not to focus on that because I just try to represent women's sport in the best way possible and of course we're all fighting for equal prize money and everything, but also at the end of the day it's all about who brings the who brings the show who brings people into the sport, but I think like now the prize money is equal.
29:57
Everything is uh getting closer and closer between men and women.
30:01
So I of course I love it and that's what women um athletes are fighting for.
30:06
Thank you Billie Jean King for all you know, fighting for us.
30:11
I agree that we deserve to be paid the same.
30:12
Of course like the level is different just because of the physical abilities, but the the the work that we put in is it's equal to the work that they put in.
30:21
Of course the level can be different, but it just uh it's life.
30:26
That's that's men meant to be a stronger than women. So.
30:30
Yeah, but it's interesting to hear that you don't think about it because I think that's cuz I guess you've just got to focus on playing the game.
30:36
Yeah, you cannot you know, focus on many things.
30:42
You just got to focus on yourself and bring the best uh uh best of you.
30:47
And uh and of course um try to fight for having like equal prize money to be like closer to what men's are um earning and and and that stuff.
30:58
And I think like actually lately like women's tennis especially tennis, women's tennis um is more fun to watch, like more people coming, like attending, people speak more about that.
31:11
Maybe it's like fashion related because it's such a fashionable sport right now.
31:17
Um but I feel like we are getting really close to men. Yeah, yeah.
31:19
I I think it's been brilliant.
31:21
I think the sport's done a great job at trying to move in the right direction for a long time.
31:25
And Billie Jean King, as you said, has been such a reason for that. It's been amazing. So, it's incredible.
31:29
Talk to us about the fashion because you're I would As soon as you put your like outfit on that day and you put the silver jacket on and like I was like Arena's like going for it.
31:38
Like, how much how much fun do you get to have with all of that?
31:42
I love it, you know, I love fashion.
31:42
I love you know, I love experimenting with the with the with my looks and stuff.
31:47
And for me it's important, you know, to look good on court, to feel good about myself. So, I love that.
31:56
I think it's all about, you know, having fun with it and bringing fashion into tennis.
32:00
I think it's also going to help to explore our sport more. So, I'm enjoying this. Yeah, yeah.
32:06
You see it in sports like I feel like basketball especially in America like all the basketball players are very fashionable.
32:12
Like it it kind of creates it brings sports and culture together quite a lot.
32:16
How do you find your inspiration for your looks?
32:18
Like is it just something you like the look of?
32:20
Like how do you kind of go about picking colors, silhouettes, everything else?
32:24
Well, I started to work with the Karla Welch, the um the stylist.
32:28
She's the best and she teach me a lot about, you know, how to mix stuff together, which colors it better better for me.
32:37
Uh so she teach me a lot and I follow a lot of like fashion influencers just to like see how they dressed up and sometimes I find inspiration.
32:44
I order a lot of stuff and you know, I'm like I cannot stop shopping.
32:49
That's my That's my weakness. >> Is it? Yes.
32:54
Yeah, there was a clip that I saw where it was like as soon as after the game, the first thing that went on was the AP.
32:59
Went on straight after the game. You know?
33:03
Got to take care of the fashion stuff of the game.
33:07
Fashion part of the game. >> it.
33:08
Will you Will you crush it again? You crush it again.
33:09
When I One of the things that I love talking to about with successful people, champions who have been through it is like defining moments in their life.
33:18
You know, I feel like defining moments in every human's life are just either propels you forward or it can, you know, slow you down or break you down.
33:26
And for you, I feel like one of the biggest ones was losing your father.
33:29
Like that is for anyone losing a parent is such a huge part of their journey.
33:33
For you, it's it's critical to your journey because it's the person who gave you what you love.
33:40
Walk us through that moment in time.
33:43
Well, I hope I'm not going to start crying right now, but it was it was unexpectable.
33:47
It just happened like this.
33:52
Um and uh it was it was a tough moment because I was so close to him.
33:59
The reason is because we have similar personalities and we um understood each other much better.
34:04
He knew what to tell me when I was like struggling on court, you know?
34:10
Um I would just call him and he would just say couple things and I'll be like, "Oh, that makes sense."
34:15
So losing him was uh was a was a tough moment.
34:20
Um but you know, instead of like really going depressed, I just decided to take it as, you You like he's like here with me.
34:31
He's in my in my heart, in my memory.
34:31
Um he raised me I feel like the best way possible.
34:37
Thanks Thanks to him for, you know, like I feel like I'm the champion right now because of because of him.
34:44
And I know that he's here with me.
34:46
He, you know, he support me, he takes care of me, he protects me.
34:52
And yeah, I took it as as a motivation to put the family name in the history and thanks to him.
34:57
Yeah, how did how did you grieve at the time?
34:59
Like what was useful to you because I feel losing someone's always hard and there's no perfect way to grieve, but what what worked for you?
35:06
What what did you have to do in order to process that?
35:10
Well, I had to stay really strong because yeah, my mom was it was tough for her to handle.
35:15
She was a young woman to lose her husband that she loved, it was tough.
35:21
So I had to stay really strong and not really show my emotions, but I was crying a lot back then. When no one's saw me.
35:30
But the best way for me was to go on court and practice and train.
35:32
That was the only time when I wouldn't think.
35:34
You know, like the beginning of the practice till the end, I was just focusing on like tennis, like hitting this like balls repetition after repetition and then the moment the practice would stop I would like constantly thinking, like remembering, like something from the past. Start crying harder.
35:52
Um that was the best way for me to go through it is like go out and and practice and practice and practice.
36:00
Yeah, I feel like Yeah, I feel like you just break down straight after because it I mean, I'm surprised you could even focus during the practice.
36:06
That's impressive because There was Yeah, I don't know how actually.
36:10
I just figured that I went on on court, start practicing, I realized that okay, this is the moment when I'm not thinking about that.
36:15
And I was I was training a lot. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
36:18
You were trying to like channel it all into Yeah, like just let it like go, let it go because it's nothing you can do about, You know, I feel like in life there is like birth, love, and that's something that you have zero control on.
36:35
So, I was like it was his journey.
36:36
I was grateful that I was able to spend 21 years with with him.
36:43
And yeah, I know that he's he's protecting me. Mhm. That's so beautiful.
36:49
Thank you for sharing that.
36:49
It's so beautiful to hear about My my wife recently lost her grandmother and I was going to give her a call last night. >> Uh It's tough.
36:56
My like my wife's I don't even come close.
36:58
My wife's favorite person in the world is her grandmother.
37:02
And her grandmother was 91.
37:02
She lived an amazing life, but losing someone that close to you that's raised you that you have all these memories with, it's never easy and you know, my wife was by her bedside for 4 months every day before she passed away like sleeping in hospital and together with her and just you know, it was it was beautiful for me to watch just that love that they shared.
37:23
>> Yeah, that connection and that level of love and that level of And I love what you just said now about how birth, love, and death are the only things that are guaranteed and it's How how do you How do you think about love?
37:35
Like what's your views on love?
37:38
I'm intrigued seeing as you brought up those three important things.
37:42
I think love is something that you cannot really explain, right?
37:43
You just you just feel complete with the person, right?
37:49
You just feel comfortable.
37:52
You you're not doubting anything. You're having fun.
37:55
You love everything about the person, good and because everyone have good and bad parts, right? So, you love everything.
38:03
And I think that's something that gives you that feeling that I don't know, that like that warm in your heart. Yeah, it's a feeling. >> you describe? You know, right?
38:14
Like how would how can Yeah.
38:18
Love to me is when someone accepts you for who you are and you accept them for who they are. >> changing your life. >> to change them. Exactly.
38:28
>> like the biggest mistake is when you either want someone to never change or you want someone to change today.
38:36
Because chances are if you spend long enough with someone they will change and you will change.
38:41
And if I want to change you, that means I never really loved you in the first place.
38:45
And so It's very when I'm willing to accept.
38:47
Yeah, when I'm willing to accept and be with you and sit with you and understand you.
38:51
I'm I'm trying to be more curious than I am judgmental. Exactly.
38:56
>> Because I'm trying to understand why you are the way you are and I love that.
39:00
>> what made you this way and I totally agree.
39:02
Yeah, cuz it's cuz I feel like it's it's so easy in any relationship.
39:06
This isn't just romantic.
39:06
I think it applies to parents, family, sisters, siblings, brothers, everyone.
39:10
It's like you don't know why someone is the way they are.
39:14
You don't know what they been through, right?
39:17
What made them the way they are.
39:19
And when you understand understand that about, like you said, family, friends, just people, right? Yeah.
39:25
Makes you yeah, just feel the person. Yeah.
39:29
When did you start to feel successful and feel like you were a champion?
39:34
Did you ever Do you feel that way or is there I don't know.
39:39
I never I never think about that.
39:41
I think for me success is the the discipline that you put in. Mhm. I think this is success.
39:49
Like being able to be there every morning, every practice.
39:56
Doesn't matter how you feel, doesn't matter if you want it or you you don't want to be there, you know, that because there is days when you just don't want to go and work or practice and do your job, right?
40:07
And if you're still there, this is success.
40:09
This is means that you you you love what you do and you want to be successful.
40:13
That's It's definition of success. I love that.
40:15
That's such a great answer.
40:17
Success is actually showing up even when you don't want to, when you don't feel like it.
40:22
That's really what it is.
40:24
I think that's why I'm able to, you know, hold these trophies because I was there like no matter what since like a very young age.
40:33
You know, I remember going to practice not feeling well.
40:36
But I don't know, someone was just something was just driving me.
40:38
Like I was just going there.
40:39
I loved it and that's why I say that people have to find something they love because when you love something what's like what you do.
40:50
That's what pushes you like to go, to do, to to do better every day like and to improve to That's important.
40:58
I love what you're saying and I'm I'm thinking about some of the things I think my audience struggles with sometimes.
41:05
Let's say you find Some people struggle to find something they love.
41:10
Do you think that's because we have the wrong view of it?
41:12
Like I think some people think if you love something you'll always like it.
41:16
But what you're saying is you could love something and there'll still be days where you don't like it, which I think is a really important point. Yeah. Does that make sense?
41:22
Like I feel like so many people give up on things because they feel like okay, I I don't want to go there.
41:27
It means that okay, I'm done.
41:29
And I think this is actually the moment where you can make the like break through, you know, because you yeah, like you said, you're absolutely right.
41:37
You can love something but at the same time you can experience those days when you just don't want to do that and it's normal. It's normal.
41:43
It just it's it's a routine.
41:48
So it's important to if you love something at first and you you felt happy and it like all of the sudden you're like okay, I'm I don't want to go there.
41:58
It's It's doesn't mean that you have to change something.
42:02
You know, you have to change your job.
42:03
You just have to go through this period.
42:05
It's It's like in every relationship.
42:07
It's not perfect all the time.
42:09
You have to, you know, go through something.
42:11
Did you ever think about giving up?
42:13
Like was there ever a time in your life where you were like, "I think this is it." ?
42:17
Yeah, there was a moment in my career. When was that? 3 years ago?
42:23
When I was double faulting, I couldn't like serve.
42:25
I don't know what happened with me. Like I couldn't serve. Just something happened.
42:31
And it wouldn't work and I was I was still playing.
42:33
I was I actually ended up here uh in top 10 somehow without the serve.
42:40
But it was like really I was really close to just quit because I was like, "I don't know how to fix it."
42:44
Like we tried everything. Like psychology. Um we tried everything.
42:49
Like like like going like through repetitions. Like practicing.
42:53
Like different like everything.
42:55
We tried everything and we couldn't fix it and I was like, "Okay, I'm about to quit."
43:00
Uh but then we yeah, we hired a biomechanic guy and he helped to understand some details and and you know, like so that's what I'm saying like it was the moment for me to like, you know, to stay strong, to go through it, to nev- like never give up, you know, like how we say. And I didn't quit.
43:20
And after that, I was able to win my first Grand Slam and that moment was crazy.
43:27
Crazy crazy crazy emotional.
43:27
I feel like that's always the case where it's like you love something. Yeah.
43:33
Something about it's not working. You're struggling.
43:35
You're not getting it right. >> Yeah.
43:37
And that's the point where you're required to be a bit more dedicated.
43:41
Like it's like that's where the unlock is, right?
43:43
>> Yes, I feel like uh universe, God, well, you call however you want it, send those challenges because you can handle it and for a reason.
43:55
You know, like everything happens for a reason.
43:57
And that what actually kept me in sport because I was like, "Okay, this is happen happening for a reason.
44:03
I need to change something, you know?"
44:06
And and I think you have to go through these tough challenges to see to see why why it happened to you.
44:12
It's not only about sport in everything in life, you know?
44:16
Yeah, and I feel like those are the moments that give you confidence and courage.
44:19
Like when you overcome something, which every And I think people forget how much they've overcome. Yeah.
44:24
Like I love that you just said like I've been just showing up since I was a little kid.
44:30
Like you know, you've been showing up for so many years and I think people think confidence is how you show up today or winning a trophy or it's like, "No, no, no, like think about it."
44:37
And everyone has showed up in their life.
44:40
Like the people that are going to work, for their kids, for their partner.
44:42
Like people have been showing up and if everyone could think of all the times in their life where they had the courage, had the confidence to show up even when they didn't want to, you're going to feel a lot more of that today rather than waiting to win to feel confident.
45:00
>> I think confidence it's it's it's it's a process, you know, you building this confidence like step-by-step, like by waking up the like the early morning, by showing up uh somewhere you didn't want to, you know, like and like slowly building your confidence.
45:15
It's all about like these little little steps. Yeah.
45:17
Do you have any unusual rituals or any like things that you do before you go out on court or on a day?
45:25
Like do you do you do you bounce the ball a number of times?
45:27
Do you throw it a certain way?
45:29
Is there like a little little trick or a little thing that you have personally that works for you?
45:36
>> Uh Well, I have the same breakfast Oh, you do? all the tournament.
45:39
That's my, you know, What is your go-to breakfast?
45:42
>> Oh, I love avocado toast with with two fried eggs from both sides.
45:49
Over easy, has to be perfect.
45:52
I gave so much trouble to some of the places with these eggs. It has to be perfect. >> to be perfect. I don't know. Maybe I'm crazy.
45:58
And the smoked salmon on the side. That's my go-to.
46:02
>> That's your go-to breakfast. >> this breakfast.
46:03
I always come back to this one.
46:05
>> Yeah, yeah, very specific. Yes. Yeah, it's good.
46:07
Maybe this and then I think about the bouncing the ball.
46:09
I think it's all about the habit.
46:13
Uh maybe I actually pick the balls from the ball kids.
46:16
I always pick from like if I win the point and I pick from like like I don't doesn't matter which corner.
46:22
Like for example, from the right. Right corner. How I show the right. I mean left corner.
46:32
I will keep like picking up the balls from from that kid. Got it. I don't know why.
46:36
Just like gives me uh give me I don't know good feeling. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
46:40
Yeah, we I I feel like we all have these little things that >> But as long as it as these things in your control, it's good.
46:48
When you like, you know, rely on something that is not in your control, then it can become a problem.
46:52
Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly.
46:55
Yeah, I I've I mean, I'll be honest any athlete I've ever interviewed who has continued to be a high performer in their life for a long time has a definite breakfast for their game day.
47:05
It's like a very common trait.
47:08
Like to have a a specific breakfast.
47:10
>> Well, you know, have that continuity.
47:12
Because I love like for me the main meal is breakfast.
47:15
I like I like to sit there, enjoy my breakfast, have like have my cup of coffee and um yeah, that's my ritual, you know. Yeah.
47:25
Who do you I asked this to Novak recently when he was on the show.
47:27
I was like, who do you consider your toughest opponent mentally? How many did he say? He said himself. Himself? It's a good answer. It's a good answer. I'll cut that out. You can say it as well. Well, yeah, myself. Thanks, Novak. No, I I cannot pick one. You know why?
47:51
Because everyone is tough, you know?
47:53
Like it's tough like everyone brings like different challenges, you know?
47:55
And it's tough to like say, "Okay, she's like the toughest one for me."
47:59
because then you underestimate the rest of the group, which is not right.
48:03
So, all of them brings like different challenges, but I think No, I thank you for that.
48:09
You're the biggest Yeah, you're the you're biggest mental competitor, yeah. >> Yes.
48:15
Cuz you're the one pushing yourself the hardest. Yeah, for sure. It's a good answer.
48:18
What about your toughest opponent physically? Coco, um Iga.
48:26
Yeah, these two like I think physically um brings the biggest challenge. In in what sense?
48:31
They they move really great, so sometimes you build a point and probably with others like this shot would be a winner, but with them sometimes you have to like rebuild the point and yeah, physically it's not easy.
48:43
Physically and mentally it's not easy like to like, you know, stay stay strong and be ready that the ball going to come back um every time and you have to like be really strong physically to handle that that intensity.
48:56
Yeah, how how does it feel Do you have lots of I'm sure you have so many young tennis players both men and women coming up to you feeling inspired and excited about your journey? Like how does that feel?
49:07
I think that's the goal in life and I always wanted to be a good example for next generation and when kids run to me and say, "I love you. You're my inspiration."
49:18
that's you know, that's what what actually matters in life.
49:20
What do you say to young athletes who are inspired by you are moved by you?
49:25
What what's your advice to them?
49:27
What's your words of wisdom?
49:29
Surround yourself with the right people.
49:32
That's the main thing because with the right people you can achieve anything. Mhm, that's good advice.
49:39
Is it Did it take you time to find the right people to surround yourself with?
49:42
Like is that Is that hard? It's hard.
49:45
It's really hard because there's so many um let's say interesting people around, but yeah, it took me it took me it took me time.
49:53
Um I was really happy to have my my coach with me for I don't know like how many years already, my fitness coach and a tennis coach.
50:03
So they've been there for me and and then find the right um the right agent, the right I mean yeah, it took it took time to build the right people. Yeah, it does.
50:13
I I feel like that's true and again in business, in sports, in everything.
50:18
Find your >> You go through tough Yeah, Yeah, you go through being betrayed by someone and you know like people come, people go and it's a process, but I feel like the moment you find your your your people, you better stick to that group because this is what gives you energy and power to keep going.
50:35
Yeah, I remember I had a I had a physical therapist I was working with at time.
50:42
But we ended up talking while I'd be doing physical therapy, too.
50:46
And it was really interesting.
50:46
She said to me once, this was years ago, this was like maybe 6 years ago now.
50:53
And she said to me she said, "Yeah, it's funny like it feels like the only people that stress you out are the people you pay."
50:59
And cuz she was saying when I talk, when I am venting, when I'm saying something, she was saying it was only the people in your professional world.
51:05
She was like, "It seems like your personal life is great."
51:08
Like my relationship with my wife, my relationship with my family, my sister, my my parents, but she was like, "Oh, it seems like whenever you're going through something painful, it's always to do something in your life that's part of your business."
51:19
And it really like was like a moment for me because I was like, "Oh, I've got a I've got to think about this as much."
51:25
Cuz I think when I first at least for me when I first started moving, I didn't know anyone in the entertainment industry.
51:30
I didn't know anyone in this world.
51:31
And so I was just trying to surround myself with people who were smart, who knew what they were doing, but they weren't necessarily on the same energy and vibrancy if that makes sense. Does that make sense?
51:41
Like you've had to find people on the same frequency.
51:44
>> Yeah, yeah, I I it's important to have people with a good energy, the energy that fits and and that you yeah, you understand each other and that seems like your people, you know?
51:54
Yeah, that's why you right now when we said what do you want to get for food, you were like no, my team knows me. You know, they know. Yeah, I I trust them.
52:00
Like it was That's That's That's what I mean.
52:02
Yeah, and this year you launched Arena's Arena, right? Yeah.
52:06
Which I love, which is giving people more access Yeah.
52:08
to know your team and the dynamics. Talk to us about that.
52:12
>> Yeah, I want to share myself. I want to share my life. I want life.
52:15
I want to you know, show this little kids that like we're all people.
52:22
Like you know, you don't have to be perfect to be successful, right?
52:25
And I want to show like what it takes to you know, to to be where I am and that that is like that is real and you just got to work. Yeah.
52:37
Yeah, it's it's it's great to give people access to that cuz like you said and the truth is tennis is such an individual sport and I've I've had the fortune of interviewing people from so many different sports, but tennis and Formula 1 are like so dependent on the individual in the sense that you're the one playing the game.
52:55
At the same time like you said, there is a team and so it's important to show that.
52:58
Same in F1, there is a team. >> Yeah.
53:00
But there's just so much even when you celebrated that day like when you won I was like wait a minute.
53:04
When you're on the court, you have to celebrate on your own.
53:07
Like the moment you win, whereas if you watch any other sport, the team will come together.
53:13
Players run to each other and it's >> you can do that when you get into the stands, but that moment you've got to savor it.
53:19
Like when you drop to your knees and you know >> Yeah, that was very very emotional moment.
53:25
I still you know, feel this uh because you know, yeah, you have a huge team and the amount of work that those guys put in, it's incredible and I I feel like I'm kind of like responsible for that because I know that they deserve to be the best coaches, like the best agent, the best physio, like the best team, you know?
53:49
So, I feel responsible when I'm out there competing because doesn't matter how much work they put in, you know, it's at the end it's like all depends on me, you know, and they don't know like if, you know, if I'll go out there and I'll play my best and if I'll win, you know?
54:03
So, when I'm there competing I'm not only competing for myself, I compete for my team.
54:09
But I'm like there and I I'm responsible for that, you know? Yeah. On my own.
54:13
>> Yeah, you're carrying a lot. Yeah, yeah, exactly.
54:15
So, it's it's tough and that's why I feel like most of the athletes like like they not athletes, but tennis players and Formula 1 they sort of like crying after like winning something because, you know, all that pressure, all that things in your head, they just slowly go away and you feel okay, I did it, you know?
54:35
But Formula 1 is another level. Like uh I'm a fan.
54:38
I don't I don't know how how they do that.
54:41
It's like, you know, they put sort of like their life in risk and it's so fast and so crazy and for me this is intense.
54:49
Yeah, I mean I mean it's all intense.
54:54
>> No, because, you know, we have breaks like between the points, between the games.
54:58
Those guys they're there for I don't know how long, like hour and something, right?
55:03
And they're there and like if they just lose focus for a second, gone, you know? This is tough.
55:08
It is scary knowing that you could take your own life and someone else's and it's got the sport has got so much safer over time, so it's >> Yeah, I know, it's safer now, but still, you know. >> yeah, yeah.
55:18
Yeah, what are there any sports that you watch that you love that you follow?
55:23
I love basketball, I love ice hockey, but it's not like I really have like one team Okay. one team that I support.
55:32
I just love to watch, especially like with with the basketball sitting on the court side, when I see the way those guys move like with their like height and everything, I'm like I always like message my fitness coach and like okay, we got to do something, you know?
55:47
But I'm like I'm just like frozen in the moment because I just look how they move, you know?
55:53
Probably it's like a professional defect or something, you know, because I just watch that they're like movement and it's it's crazy.
55:58
It's crazy what those guys >> Yeah, you're watching a different game because you're looking at >> Yeah, I look at different things probably.
56:05
Yeah, Formula 1 I'm just like sitting there and I'm like how they can be focused for so long without like losing their focus like >> Those races >> corner after corner like it's crazy.
56:17
Yeah, and it's repetitive as well.
56:17
It's like >> Yeah, you know, like and crazy.
56:19
That's what that's what what actually crazy. Yeah, yeah.
56:23
No, and how how much time do you give yourself to now celebrate?
56:28
You're doing press today.
56:28
I mean, like we said it's only 48 hours.
56:30
How long before you have to get back to training, back on the grind, back to the discipline?
56:35
Well, the schedule is is tough, you know, but I think I'm going to give myself a couple more days to celebrate and then we're going to go back back to work.
56:44
But like also slowly like starting probably from the gym and then yeah, we're going to build up because we have uh a couple more tournaments and and then the finals which is like top eight players compete for the you know, for the for another big trophy.
57:00
So, we have a couple more big tournaments coming up, but for now I'm going to take a couple days to celebrate because you know, when I was struggling I was always going back to those moments when I when I was winning those Grand Slams and I was like I I was thinking like I wish I could just experience that again and I I will celebrate like crazy because you never know if this moment going to come again, you know?
57:26
Of course you work, you hope, you do your best but at the end of the day, you're never know, right?
57:32
So, so earlier this season I I said to myself, okay, if I will win it this year, I'm going to I'm going to celebrate and I'll truly enjoy it, you know?
57:45
So, the plan is for the next couple of days Yeah. enjoy it.
57:47
It's good that it's good that you're honoring that cuz sometimes you say that before and then after you win it, you're like, oh, now I need to just get back to it.
57:54
So, it's nice to hear >> no.
57:56
I'm like, I have this control. I'm like I'm like that.
57:58
I'm like, okay, I need to go back, but I'm like, no, no, no, no, we got to we got to enjoy. >> got to do it. We got to enjoy. Yeah, we got to do it. No, I love that.
58:04
I loved what you posted on your Instagram.
58:06
You wrote, "To my team, I wouldn't be here without you, but don't forget you wouldn't be here without me."
58:13
It wouldn't be me without joking. >> Some little yeah.
58:16
>> Some little, you know? Don't forget.
58:18
Some little spice, some little >> that's who I am, you know?
58:20
Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, I I I genuinely I genuinely love that you're honoring your your time and energy to celebrate.
58:27
It's it's such a great reminder.
58:29
I feel like for years and years and years in my career I was just going going going going going and there was to be more mindful, to be more present, to really take it in because >> And also mentally to be healthy, right?
58:40
It's important to balance this hard work with a little joy.
58:42
Yeah, you only come back sharper. Exactly.
58:46
>> Have you found that as well?
58:46
Has that been a big part of your recovery?
58:47
Cuz I recognize you talked about sleep earlier.
58:50
Like talk to me about the need for rest and recovery and what you do to really find stillness.
58:54
I feel like recovery is is the key, you know?
58:56
And if before I would blame myself even for going for a dinner during the tournament because I would think I would feel like, oh, it's it distract me and I I wouldn't be able to be focused tomorrow.
59:11
No, it's wrong, you know?
59:11
You you have to you have to go for dinner.
59:15
You have to do things that brings you joy. You have to like sleep.
59:19
You have to focus on your recovery as well because this is part of the process, you know?
59:24
Like to be able physically and mentally hand handle this uh pressure and this intensity, you have to have a good recovery.
59:33
So, it's also one of the main priorities for us. Mhm. I love that.
59:38
So, Irena, I know you have this Battle of the Sexes game coming up with Nick.
59:43
Nick had been on the show.
59:46
Uh very excited about this repeat.
59:46
I don't think it's ever been done again.
59:49
No, I think it is it's been done like long, long time ago. >> Jean King. Yeah, like really long. What was that? What was the year? The '70s, yeah. Great game.
59:58
>> a It's been a while, right?
59:58
There's a movie about the if if anyone hasn't seen the actual game, there's a great movie about it, too.
1:00:03
And so, with Emma Stone, I think it's >> We're bringing it back.
1:00:05
Yeah, it's Yeah, you're bringing it back. What What inspired this?
1:00:10
Well, uh yeah, since we're fighting for equal prize money, I believe uh uh that's that's the reason, no?
1:00:19
No, but mostly it's just I think it's fun and it's cool to see and it's uh um interesting for me to play against the man and I'm ready to kick his uh am I allowed to use this word? Kick his ass, right?
1:00:30
I put I'm putting a lot of pressure on him right now, so I hope he's going to just withdraw from from feeling all of the pressure.
1:00:37
Yeah, you can say whatever you want.
1:00:38
Give us that message to Nick.
1:00:40
I'm going to send it to Nick straight away after this message.
1:00:43
Well, Nick, you got to be ready.
1:00:45
You better be ready and uh yeah, I'm going to I'm going to kick your ass, man. I love it. I love it.
1:00:53
I think the ATP going to cancel the battle.
1:00:57
Going to be like, well, okay, if it's happening, let it be like Yannick or or or Carlos, but not not Nick.
1:01:01
They're turning this attorney into like a boxing match, it feels like. It's like UFC.
1:01:07
>> Yeah, I'll make sure that I'm I'll I'll send him some drinks before the before the battle, just so, you know.
1:01:11
Oh, yeah, and you've got some little tricks up your sleeve like that.
1:01:15
>> Yeah, yeah, you know, I'm going to make sure he's not ready. I love it.
1:01:16
And talk to me about this What change they're going to have to help make it make so >> So basically I'll be on the side with like a smaller court. >> Got it.
1:01:27
So he has a smaller area to >> Yeah, to to hit and and he's he's going to be on the regular size so kind of like unfair already, right?
1:01:36
I don't know if it's unfair.
1:01:39
And I think we're going to have one serve each. Um That's it. >> That's very exciting. Where's it taking place?
1:01:48
We're still trying to figure it >> Okay. All right. I want to come watch. Come come.
1:01:52
>> So you're going to let me know, yeah.
1:01:53
I'll come to >> to you're going to sit on on my >> for you. I'll cheer for you. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
1:01:57
I'm going to message Nick now again. I'm cheering for Arena. Yeah, I love it. I'm on your side. Yeah. Thank you.
1:02:03
>> Arena, is there anything I haven't asked you that you wish I did ask you?
1:02:06
Anything you You know, I think you I mean, you know what you do. You know what you do.
1:02:10
You you ask everything I wished of talking about.
1:02:16
>> Yeah, I'm making sure cuz I I I like I I don't take these opportunities for granted.
1:02:20
I feel so lucky that I get to sit with you 48 after 48 hours after winning.
1:02:25
I feel so fortunate I get to speak to one of the best you know in the game.
1:02:31
>> number one in the world.
1:02:31
I'm so happy to be in your podcast and it's been a dream of mine for so long and finally we we did it. We did it. We did it.
1:02:39
I'm so grateful that I get to be part of your dreams. I mean that.
1:02:41
We end every episode with a final five.
1:02:43
So these have to be answered in one word to one sentence maximum. Okay.
1:02:49
>> But I always I always go away from that. So don't worry about it.
1:02:53
Arena Sabalenka, these are your final five.
1:02:55
The first question is what is the best advice you've ever heard or received?
1:03:01
Focus on yourself and don't listen to people because most of the people want you to fail.
1:03:06
So focus on yourself and on people close to you. Who said that to you? My father. That's awesome.
1:03:13
How old were you when he first said that to you?
1:03:15
He said it to me when I was 17, I think. Okay.
1:03:20
He was waiting probably for the moment for me to be ready to I don't know, to uh accept some sort of deep advice actually. Yeah.
1:03:29
How long before you feel you really took it to heart and really understood it?
1:03:35
Maybe when he passed away.
1:03:35
You know, I feel like when we're we're losing um a person that that that this is the moment when we actually realize how much we lost, you know?
1:03:44
Like and we appreciate every little small detail and the the memories keep still coming up in my head, you know? I'm like, oh. You know?
1:03:57
So, you have to you have to appreciate if you still have your family, just for people, you have to appreciate it and you have to really um take care of your closest one. Mhm.
1:04:09
Do you keep any physical part of him on you at any time when you're playing or in your bag or anywhere or not really?
1:04:17
That's it's more in your heart and your mind. >> in my heart. It's more in my heart.
1:04:18
Uh when he passed away, I had um audios from him. Mhm.
1:04:25
But then I was crying like crazy when I uh when I figured that they disappeared after like a year and I didn't like record it, save it somehow.
1:04:32
It was in the in in the app just to like keep his voice and because he wasn't the person who would like take a lot of videos, you know, like pictures and stuff.
1:04:41
I don't have that either either.
1:04:45
So, I was really depressed that I don't have his like voice, but he's in my in my heart, in my memory.
1:04:50
I think that's the most important. It's beautiful.
1:04:51
Uh question number two, what is the worst advice you've ever heard or received?
1:04:57
You know, like bad things never stay in my head, so Good answer.
1:04:59
I I don't remember any like bad advice. It's good answer. >> Work with IMG maybe. Good answer. All right, very cool.
1:05:08
Uh question number three, I'm going to say, uh oh, what would you say are your three most life-changing games that you've ever played?
1:05:20
Three most life-changing matches.
1:05:20
And they don't have to be finals or wins.
1:05:24
Yeah, I think Uh, the semi-final against Madison Keys at the US Open two year two years ago.
1:05:33
I think yeah, two years ago. >> Why that one?
1:05:37
Because I was down set and I think 5-1 or something and I came back in the match and I won that one and I made my first final.
1:05:43
So, I think that was the moment when when I realized a lot of things.
1:05:48
How does it feel to be 5-1 down?
1:05:50
Oh, feels feels terrible.
1:05:54
It's a terrible feeling, but you're still hoping that maybe How do you keep hoping that moment?
1:05:59
Because 5-1 is literally like Yeah, it's like okay, especially about against big server, you know, you're like no chance.
1:06:07
What are you What are you holding on to?
1:06:09
You just trying, you know, like you I was like reminding myself I mean, it's a dream to be in the semis.
1:06:15
So, there is no way you're going to give up even like doesn't matter how things going on like how badly it is, you have to like still trying and maybe maybe there's going to be a moment when you figured something and you find your game, your rhythm and you'll get the win and I did it and it was kind of like a life-changing moment then Oh, what else?
1:06:36
Winning the first slam, of course, gave me huge huge uh belief, you know, that okay, I'm capable of it and my life wasn't waste of time, you know.
1:06:52
And the third one Your life was definitely not a waste of time.
1:06:57
No, but you know I No, I don't even mean like your career just is >> You know, like it's it would be really difficult for me to finish my career without the slam.
1:07:05
And the third one, I don't know. I don't know.
1:07:14
There was one match when I won there is a tournament in Doha and I won the tournament but I think in quarter finals I was also like down the set and was struggling a lot was playing really not my best tennis and I won that match and then I won the tournament also was kind of like a big moment for me. I think these three.
1:07:33
>> It's amazing that the two of the ones you chose are when you're down >> Yeah. and you come back.
1:07:36
Like there's something about >> moment where you like gives you like that power because next match you play you think oh I mean come on I've been down five one seriously you you think that I'm going to give up like that just because I like lose my serve or whatever.
1:07:52
So it just gives you that power to fight.
1:07:54
Yeah, it's a great reminder to all of us that no matter what >> are the moments to look out for because they become your best or they become your best glory.
1:08:02
Stay there stay there keep fighting and this is this is probably the biggest moment. Yeah.
1:08:06
Uh question number three what do you think people misunderstand about you that you'd like to clarify?
1:08:12
Well I think because now I'm sharing myself more on social media they have better understanding about me but I think there is still some people that they think that the way I am on court this is like reflection of me off court which is not true because I think as I said earlier you know I'm I'm quite aggressive because I'm on court because I'm fighting for my dream there and this is not the time where where you have to be nice. Yeah.
1:08:40
Because off the court I'm much nicer like I'm chill it's really tough to get into a fight with me you know.
1:08:49
So you have to do something terrible. Yeah.
1:08:52
>> Probably my boyfriend will say different but I still think so people misunderstand that that I'm different person.
1:09:02
>> if people say like, "Oh, she's too emotional or unstable or whatever it is."
1:09:06
You're like, "That's just on the court. I have to be."
1:09:09
>> That's Yeah, that's on the court.
1:09:09
That's Arena on the court.
1:09:10
Yeah, and that's not Arena off court. >> Yeah. I get that.
1:09:13
I mean, I this sounds ridiculous, but it's so true.
1:09:17
Like it me and my friends just play amateur everything.
1:09:20
Like I don't play any sport well, but we get so competitive just playing around.
1:09:25
I love watching like, you know, people Yeah.
1:09:30
play play tennis for fun, but they really >> they like.
1:09:33
I can't imagine but they're not taking it as fun, you know? They go full.
1:09:36
>> Exactly, and you're like actually playing a tournament.
1:09:37
Like I'm like I I'm pretty I'm pretty All my friends know that when we're playing a sport, I'm extremely competitive and I'm not like that in real life or in person.
1:09:44
I'm you know, and that's And I'm not even playing the final of you know, and so yeah, there's There has to be a bit of grace.
1:09:52
I feel like there has to be a bit of grace for athletes.
1:09:53
I'm like you're You realize this.
1:09:56
>> Yeah, like a little bit like, you know, like stop yourself and like look at everything as a bigger picture, you know? Like, "Okay." Yeah, definitely.
1:10:04
Uh num- question number four before the fifth, which way do I want to go here?
1:10:10
One day, long time from now, we hope you're going to win so many more Grand Slams.
1:10:13
I'm I'm putting out loads of good energy.
1:10:16
What would you When you look back on your career, what would you like for yourself to feel about it?
1:10:19
What would you like to say about your own career?
1:10:20
I would love to look back and say I've done everything I could.
1:10:28
And I want my career to be remembered.
1:10:33
Like And then then I want to see young kids being inspired by me, and I want to look back and know that I actually inspired a lot and and Yeah, I want to be in the history. Mhm. I love that. I love that. You already are. You already are. Sort of.
1:10:52
Not even close to the greatest, but we're trying.
1:10:55
Yeah, I I well, the trying's the trying is the most important part.
1:10:58
It's wonderful to hear you say that.
1:10:59
It's It's really special if you remind kids to try.
1:11:01
I think that would help a lot of kids. Yeah.
1:11:05
>> Cuz not you know, not every kid will become number one, but every kid can try and chase their dream.
1:11:09
That would be a good world to live in.
1:11:10
So, Just give your best and that's that's all you you can do. Yeah.
1:11:15
Uh fifth and final question Aryna, we ask this to every guest who's ever been on the show.
1:11:18
The question is if you could create one law that everyone in the world had to follow, what would it be?
1:11:27
I want everything to be decided in a conversation. Um no wars and stuff.
1:11:34
Just like sit down, speak, and figure it all of the problems. Mhm. That's a great law.
1:11:44
Save a lot >> That's all we need in in the world right now. Save a lot of uh lives.
1:11:49
>> Yeah, save a lot of lives, yeah.
1:11:49
If we were able to solve things by Just by talking, sitting, and figuring then not leaving the room uh before you figured something.
1:11:58
Yeah, that's a great answer.
1:11:58
We've never had that before.
1:12:00
Aryna Sabalenka, congratulations again. >> Thank you. Thank you so much. >> this.
1:12:04
And looking forward to you coming on many years.
1:12:06
Usually when people come on once, they come on a few times.
1:12:08
So, I look forward to doing this with you many many times.
1:12:12
>> Let's make it as as our transition. Yes, I I'd love that. I'd love that.
1:12:15
Congrats and thank you for bringing the first ever trophy on the show. Yeah.
1:12:19
You deserve it and uh you're you're a true champion and a a true leader. So, thank you so much. >> much for having me. >> Thank you.
1:12:27
If you love this podcast, you'll love my episode with Lewis Hamilton.
1:12:31
Lewis and I talk about why you should stop chasing society's definition of success and how to be more intentional with your goals.
1:12:39
You don't want to miss it.
1:12:41
Like it's not about being perfect, it's about just every day one step at a time trying to be better, trying to do more.
1:12:46
I'm learning a lot about myself.
1:12:48
I have to break myself down in order to be able to be better.