Rennae Stubbs explains why Aryna Sabalenka may never reach 10 Grand Slam titles

Speaking on her podcast, Stubbs said she doubts Sabalenka can win 10 or more majors without adopting better emotional control. She explained that while Sabalenka “hits the ball so well” and possesses an explosive game, her combustible personality has cost her repeatedly during the season.

Stubbs noted that losing her composure — yelling at her player box, breaking racquets, and struggling to contain frustration — remains Sabalenka’s biggest obstacle in “really big matches.” She stressed that if Sabalenka wants to win “15 or 20” Slams, she must learn to calm herself and maintain focus when pressure peaks.

Drawing a comparison to Serena Williams, Stubbs said both players share similar fiery competitive traits. But Serena, she argued, learned how to control her emotions when it mattered most, a shift that helped her win 23 majors — and perhaps prevented her from winning even more. Stubbs suggested that Sabalenka’s path to a better 2026 begins with adopting the same discipline: “She has to keep it together… if she wants to win multiple Slams every year.”

Sabalenka’s 2025 season exposed a key weakness

While Stubbs’ critique may seem tough for a world No. 1 who won a major this season, Sabalenka’s results show an undeniable pattern. She reached five finals in 2025 — the WTA Finals, Roland Garros, Stuttgart, Indian Wells, and the Australian Open — and lost all of them, the highest tally of final defeats in any season of her career.

Reaching finals is, of course, a sign of elite consistency. But consistently falling short on the biggest stages is concerning for a player aiming to build a legendary résumé. One of those losses, the Roland Garros defeat to Coco Gauff, ended with Sabalenka losing her composure during her post-match interview and facing accusations of disrespect.

Moments like that strengthen Stubbs’ belief that mentality, not ability, is what stands between Sabalenka and a historic era of dominance. And if Sabalenka wants 2026 to be the year she steps into that next tier, mastering her emotions may be even more important than anything she does on court.