US Open Champion Aryna Sabalenka Is Defending Her Title

0:29I don't like watching myself playing. to play tennis after that. Is there a part of your game that you want to keep evolving? Yeah, I want to have a better slice. I want to use it more often. I have a great backhand slice actually. Can you come to practice and you can help me? I'll work with you a little bit, yeah. If you were in charge of the WTA for a day, what would you like to change? Hi, my name is Arina Sobolenko and this is Boardroom Cover Story.

1:11There's so much pressure in sports in general, but I always think about tennis as like this intense pressure being, you know, an individual sport. Or does a whole other layer of pressure start to creep in when you get to that top spot? Because when you're climbing and you're eyeing it, it's such a clear vision. But when you're there, it's about maintaining it. Well, yeah. I mean, I think pressure is part of our lives. And the moment you understand that this is normal and you don't have to avoid it, you just have to live with it. You know, you kind of like put it aside and it's there. It's constantly there.

1:44But you put it aside and you focus on different things. It's really important to have right people around you because when you have this healthy environment, it also helps to kind of like forget about the pressure and focus on the right things. Even though being number one in the world is incredible, is the real focus still for somebody in your position about the majors? I mean, of course, everyone chasing majors, but nobody really, I think in top 10, nobody really cares about ranking. it only makes difference in your contracts and the bonuses you're getting so of course you want to stay as high as possible but I think to keep being where you are you have to focus on improving yourself every day and trying to bring something new in the game trying to in some way surprise your opponents with the new tools you you you I don't know you have in your game and yeah I think At the end of the day, we all focus on titles, on reaching, on getting as many titles as you can.

2:46Do you watch a lot of film on your matches and your opponents and see things that you want to constantly improve on? Well, I leave that part for my team. I don't like watching myself playing. I get annoyed by the way I'm on court because it's so different and it's so aggressive. and I feel embarrassed every time, even though I understand this is the way I have to be to be successful in what I do. But in preparation for the matches, I watch my opponents just so I prepare for their game and just to know what to expect. And then after matches, my team talks to me and they say, okay, this didn't work.

3:27This worked really well and this is where we have to improve and this is what we're going to do in the next day. So I have a really good team to take care of that. So you mentioned your on-court demeanor, which is funny because you're so bubbly and fun off the court and you're such a gangster on the court. Yeah, because this is, I mean, I dedicate a whole life for sport and I want to be successful. And this is something big for me and important for me and my family. So there's no time for jokes, you know. I'm there to play, to fight, and to get the wins. And I cannot be a nice person there. I'm there to get the win, no matter what.

4:09And I cannot be nice and fun. And still, with the years, with the experience, I managed to have fun there, to be nicer. But whenever there is the moment of, OK, this is the point, the game I have to get, I have to win, I'm going to be 100 % on and I'm going to be aggressive. So it's a bounce. Is it hard to turn that off? No, it's natural. Like, whenever the match is finished, I'm like, okay, I'm back to be Irina. Like normal Irina. Yeah. The real you. The real me, yeah.

4:49Historically, women especially have gotten criticism at times for on court, right? Serena got a lot of that throughout her career. Has watching her from afar growing up and other players helped you in dealing with that when you've had people say things at times about your on-court demeanor as opposed to your off-court demeanor? You know, I have a very funny story from a very young age. People were comparing me to Sharapova, like, oh, you're next to Sharapova. I was very little, like eight or nine. My dad told me this story. And whenever people would call me different names, like current top players, I would just look and say no I'm like next Sabolenka I have no clue how I like was like why and like how did it came to my mind to say this stuff but I I watch tennis of course but I would never like look at someone and think like oh my god like like I want to be like her like no like I was I don't know I think I was just too focused on I don't know on my life on playing tennis having fun like trying to be as good as possible on each practice but now looking back on those people of course I want to dominate the way Serena was dominating the tour but growing up I didn't have any idols I don't know if it's good or bad because everyone was inspired by someone and I want to be inspiration for the next generation I think that's the goal in life but me personally I was just like I don't know I was too focused maybe I was just too selfish and too much in love with myself so I was like doing my thing I don't know but I never had idols you know I it's for a lot of I've worked with a lot of professional athletes that seems to be common right like and I think it's probably that like different thing that separates the greats which is that you know I'll ask athletes like who their favorite players were growing up or who their favorite teams were and they look at me like I was on the court I was out playing I was focused on me maybe right maybe that's yeah that's the way to success I mean but Serena did deal with criticism right which I think is like even different than whether she was a favorite player of yours or not and there's been other women through through the years have you been able to just like accept that sadly that's a part sometimes of the narrative around sport I think you have to accept that that there is definitely going to be people who's not gonna like your you the way you are on court and i think it's it's important to focus on yourself on what actually helps you to be as good as you are like in your sports and whatever industry you're in so i think you have to put it aside like those negative um comments criticism all of that stuff you and you have to focus on people who actually loves you and who supports you so I don't really care like what people think about my attitude on court or my like behavior I know that this is this is the way I have to be to be successful and to probably inspire those people who actually support me and who who see like an inspiration in me so I focus on positivity

8:00Last year you won the US Open and you had won two Australians before, but you know, what does New York City mean to you and what was that moment like last year, winning on that stage? You know, it was a very special moment and I think I was just, I don't know, I was on the top of the world at that moment.

8:24because I struggled a lot in the past in New York and this was the slam I badly wanted to win and I would I would fail in this same is in the final against Coco even though I thought like okay everything is going my way and and it felt like I was controlling the game but I still lost it and like getting that win it was just like you know everything happened for a reason and I was there I was enjoying it and I felt like okay now I'm where I'm meant to be and I finally got this beautiful trophy and I think New York is super special yeah it's a big city like big people watching like watching you play and the crowd is is is incredible there you know and if you feel all the support from the crowd it's just incredible honestly like i don't know i was i was on top of the world give her what she deserves new york i was at the match the year before your semis lost and then i was at your win this past year and i you could tell the crowd felt that too and they they were behind you and knew that that journey took place yeah it took me a little while to to build that i don't know that kind of like love from the crowd here because i don't know why but every time in the finals i play against americans it's like a test you know like haha we got you now you know and like you have to pass the test and going to the into the last final against bagula i was like i was like i don't know i was like kind of like praying like please like okay if not half people just like 15 20 i just need to like a little support you know a little love and i was playing the match and i felt like like i was the american you know i felt i felt all the support and i had a goosebumps honestly i had a goosebumps every time i would make a cool point i felt the support and this is what actually motivates me and and and helped me to keep going and i really hope yeah i i inspire people you like being in new york I love it.

10:29You do? Yeah. Probably for a living, it's a little bit too much, but it also depends. You know, you have to know the areas. But I love being in New York. You know, like it's good places, good restaurants, great shopping. It just, I don't know. I love it. This is how I spend on my day to New York. We walk us through your day in New York. I do glam in the morning, shoot some video content. And then I eat, then I shop, then I eat, then I shop again, then I eat again. Then I probably shop online and that's it. Perfect. What a liar. What a liar. What a liar.

11:15What would you say like the different kind of personalities of the crowds of the four majors are? well australia australians they are also um crazy about tennis so they i don't know how to say that i don't want anyone but i i love support in australia but in australia they go really crazy if you got if you get um fans in australia i mean they're gonna be cheering for you like crazy like like literally like crazy um going nuts sometimes and i love it it's the best feeling french i mean they're very picky with whom they support and yeah if they support they they sing i would i would say like that uh wimbledon is just so classy so like polite and everyone is kind of like quiet and very respectful there.

12:12And Usopan is kind of like similar to Australia. They just probably drink a little bit more than Australians. They had the honeydew strength. I love it. I love it. You know, like, keep drinking. I'm going to keep sending them tequila and just to get them on my side. You know, your semis match, actually, I sat in the front row with Kevin Durant. I don't know if you remember this. We were like right there on the side. And that was his first time drinking honeydews all night long and we were two of those very drunk New York friends. So you understand what I'm saying. I do understand. Obviously you're incredible on every surface but would you say there's like a surface that you're still trying to conquer in your mind?

12:51No I think I'm pretty confident on every surface. It's just like probably I never I've never been successful on clay and grass compared to hardcore but I really think it's just because we play the most of the times we play on the hardcourt. And if I would have a little bit more chances on the clay court, like a bit, I don't know, longer season on the clay, maybe I would be more successful than I am. But I love playing on every surface. And you adjust your game. There's certain things that change according to surface. Yeah, hardcourt is a bit faster and you just go for it. Clay court, you have to build a point and it's more physical.

13:32Physically, it's tougher. and grass is just super, super fast and super low on you, you've got to have a good touch to play there. Is there a part of your game that you want to keep evolving? Like if you could pinpoint one thing, you'd like to get better? Yeah, I want to have a better slice and I want to use it more often. I have a great backhand slice, actually. Okay, so can you come to practice and you can help me to improve this? I'll work with you a little bit, yeah. Thank you, thank you so much. But I have my own little trick, so. Yeah, okay. I need to know. All right, definitely. Thank you.

14:12I know you're going to be here again later in the year in December at Madison Square Garden, which is a whole different type of crowd and element. But what would some of those things that you talk about in terms of just like what started to come to you after winning here? Well, I think US Open exploded me more than Australia Open and the rest of the tournaments I played. And I think people get to know you more and brands see you. They actually see because after winning US Open, media is... I felt like you were all over. And it's very good because you have more opportunities to talk to the brands, to build good connections with your favorite brands.

14:57And from the business side of the asset world, you get more opportunities. And, you know, obviously as that happens, having the right team around you is important. And this past year, you made a switch and joined the team at Evolve, who I love dearly and have done an incredible job. What was the thought process in making that switch? I didn't like the way IMG approached things. and if you want to build something big and something for yourself and you want to build your brand and not just get the momentum deals and you know like they like they're not gonna help you on that and when I never had like structured plan for like what I actually want where I want to be like what which brands I want to work with so they never like had like really structure plan for me and they're not really i think like okay i'm not gonna talk about like them overall but i'm gonna say that with me personally they weren't like really focus on on me on building like my brand you know i was just like one of so many yeah and you know like it's tough to compete with the rest of the players they have because because of the market and they wasn't ready to put hard work into helping me.

16:16I found a great team. I feel super connected. And as you said, I really love those guys. Yeah. And also, you know, it's a natural progression. I think it happens a lot. Like you grow and you change. And as you look back, you see that all of the top players, at some point, they leave IMG. Yeah.

16:40What do you look for? with a brand partner. And who are some of your brand deals? Ogbury, of course. AP, Nike, Wilson, Delbel Tequila, and all of them are very professional at what they do. I feel very close and I can ask, and it's also these brands like AP helps you to get into a fashion world and build your connections and talk to like really high profile people. And it's also, you know, like I'm getting better, I'm learning and I can talk and I can ask, I can get advice and that's just, yeah, I love to work with those brands. Some of these businesses that like Roger Federer was able to build and Serena and some of your peers now like Coco, you see so many of these successful athlete entrepreneurs.

17:27What do you see that interests you in all of that? Well, I love to see, yeah, the way, as you said, Federer and Nadal and all of these big people, big athletes, They build their business behind their sport because I think it's really important to build something outside of tennis because your career is not long enough and you have to have something else outside of your sport. I love fashion. I love business. I love to learn new stuff and work with the different brands and invest money. obviously I definitely look up to people like Federer and yeah I was following their career outside of tennis just so I can learn a little bit and see what I can do to get better at this part of my life.

18:19Well you're doing the best thing in the world for business which is you're number one in the world and you're dominant. Yeah I mean obviously like yeah the base is like keep focusing on your main job because this is the good base for like building a business you know so our focus of course is there like 100 % there are there brands in the fashion space that you love oh my god i love so many brands of course Steve Saint Laurent, Loeva. Allai is amazing. Mimil, they have really cool stuff. Frankie's shop is unbelievable for, like, blazers, jackets. I can just keep going. The row. I love the row.

19:07So good, the quality. Do you think you could design at some point in your life? Do you like that process? I love the process. I definitely can give some ideas, but I'm not that professional in that, so I cannot like put the picture together. I have ideas which I can like throw to the people who can make them life. What's the best city to shop in? Price-wise or just like... For you, where do you enjoy shopping? I enjoy shopping. Where do I enjoy shopping? Paris? Oh, Paris. Definitely Paris. I never shop in Milan, but I've heard a lot so I would like to go there. I like to shop in New York.

19:49When I was younger, it felt like tennis players retired earlier. And then obviously, like, you know, the big three are playing or played two of them. One continues to play and looks like he'll never stop playing. Yeah, probably he will never do that. And Serena played forever and others. You know, so when you think about like what the peak is for a tennis player now, like do you envision playing as long as humanly possible? Do you think you're at your peak right now? Do you feel like you can get better and better and better still? I think I'm still improving and I think I still can get better.

20:24But it's a tough question for women. Because for guys, it's all about their lifestyle to stay healthy. And now there's so many. First of all, even like fitness is different. Everyone is aware of that stuff and they build their body just so their career can be longer. But for women, there is other part which is like family and building the family. Of course, ideally, I'm not retiring anytime soon, but I want like at some point, I don't know, five to ten years, maybe not ten, but maybe like seven years, I want to build a family and probably come back and try, I don't know, try to get back on level I was before family situation.

21:03But I don't know, I just have so much love and passion to the sport. And that's literally everything I've been doing my whole life. And I think it's going to be very tough for me to retire. so I think I want to I'll be I'll be one of those people who is like very old but keep trying yeah and but there's been other examples people are coming back all the time now yeah but you know it's tricky I don't want to just come back and be on like this middle level if coming back I'm talking about coming back like really coming back on the tap yeah is your workout regimen just insane what does it mean you're what you do to train that's what i thought i do i do a lot of stuff but uh we're mostly working with the body weight i'm not doing like crazy heavy weights because i don't know let's say my genetics because if i do heavy weights for one week my muscles like getting really big and i'm getting like really big and like it's just tough to play tennis after that so we're working with the body weight and also controlling the body balance of course there's conditioning but yeah we're just trying to build that healthy strong body to extend my career.

22:17I feel no pressure to answer this question but as a tennis fan it would be interesting for me to hear who would you say your kind of top five favorite players of all time men and women? Definitely Federer, Nadal, the hard work Kipurin, it's crazy. I mean, of course Serena, the way she dominated. Steffi Graf, I love her so much. Is it four? I think we're at four, yeah. We go for one more. Oh, Agassi. So Steffi, Agassi, this family is the best. Yeah, you got to keep them together. Yeah.

22:52If you were in charge of the WTA for a day, what would you like to exchange? I mean, prize money. But it's not only for WTA. I think players, like tennis players, we deserve to get more. And I think even if you compare our sport to other, like NBA, NHL, if you see the percentage, it's like a joke. I think we need to bring this number a bit higher. It still blows your mind thinking about just the work you put in and growing up in Belarus and now you're number one in the world. yeah i think whenever you reach any of your goals the moment you reach it you just have all of those memories from the past from um what you went through what it actually took you to get where you are and it yeah it blows your mind you're like oh my god i went through a lot and i'm staying here and you just you're just proud of yourself of what you've been what you um you were able to build.

23:54And 20 years from now, what would you like someone to say about you? She was, she was, she was a beast. A beast. Beauty and the beast. Beauty and the beast. I love it. All right. Well, good luck next week at the Open. I really appreciate you sitting down with us. I appreciate everybody for tuning in, subscribing. Go to boardroom.tv, check out the August cover story with Irina Sabalenka, the number one player in the world. Thank you. I have cramping.