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Billie Jean King Reveals What She Loves the Most About Aryna Sabalenka After Her US Open Win

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Gouri Das | Last updated Sep 10, 2025 3:29 PM ET

Aryna Sabalenka is now a four-time Grand Slam singles champion. After playing two Grand Slam finals earlier this year, the Belarusian finally enjoyed success when she defeated Amanda Anisimova in the final of the US Open.

Sabalenka was defeated in the Australian Open and French Open finals by Madison Keys and Coco Gauff, respectively, this year. Then at Wimbledon, it was Anisimova who knocked her out in the semifinals. The World No.1 got her revenge in New York and also improved her head-to-head over the American to 4-6.

Sabalenka is currently performing her media duties and appeared on the Welcome to the Party podcast with the legendary Billie Jean King. King lavished some high praise on the 27-year-old.

What I love about you is that when you come out to play, you bring all of yourself. I mean, every particle of your being you bring. I would like to know how you get ready every time and every day for that, for every match?

Sabalenka thinks being herself and bringing everything that she has on the court has helped her be successful. The US Open was Sabalenka’s fourth title of the season after her wins at the Brisbane International, Madrid Open, and Miami Open.

I just love what I do, and I think when you love your job, you bring everything that you have.
Aryna Sabalenka said

Sabalenka’s next tournament is the China Open, where she suffered a three-set defeat to Karolina Muchova in the quarterfinals last year. After Beijing, she was successful in defeating home favorite Qinwen Zheng in the Wuhan Open final. It was Sabalenka’s third title in the tournament.

Aryna Sabalenka reflects on her US Open win

The US Open title defense was special for Aryna Sabalenka, given that she has become the first woman since the legendary 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams (2014) to defend the New York Grand Slam title. During her interview with Today, Sabalenka called this an “insane” achievement.

That is insane to believe. Not to compare to her, but to have something a little close to Serena is just crazy to process. I had to learn really tough lessons earlier this season. I’m kind of like, not happy, but I needed to learn something about myself to go out here at the US Open to bring the best tennis, and to bring the best fight in the final, and to control myself like I did.

The win also helps her maintain the No. 1 position. She would have been dethroned had she failed to progress beyond the quarterfinals, and Iga Swiatek or Coco Gauff won the title.

Todd Woodbridge on Aryna Sabalenka’s win

Former ATP player Todd Woodbridge thinks defeat in the US Open final could have spoiled Sabalenka’s Grand Slam plans next year. During an interview on The Tennis Mini, Woodbridge also lauded Sabalenka for her consistency.

I think that the tournament win now allows her to go on. I think if she had lost, I don’t think she would have gone on in 2026 to achieve more.

Although it was Sabalenka’s fourth title win this year, she also played her eighth final at Flushing Meadows. Apart from those four tournaments as well as her Australian Open and French Open campaigns, Sabalenka also reached the final of Indian Wells and the Stuttgart Open, losing the matches to Mirra Andreeva and Jelena Ostapenko .

Amanda Anisimova, on the other hand, was chasing her second title of the season after winning the Qatar Open. She also played her fourth final of the season at the US Open, as well as her second Grand Slam final after Wimbledon.

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

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