Aryna Sabalenka, the reigning world No. 1 and a multiple Grand Slam champion, has openly addressed the ongoing comparisons to tennis legend Serena Williams, admitting that matching Williams’ monumental Grand Slam tally would be “really tough.” Speaking at the 2025 Wuhan Open, where she is a three-time defending champion, Sabalenka emphasized her focus on personal development rather than chasing specific historical benchmarks set by the American icon.
The Weight of Expectation: Serena’s 23 Grand Slams
Serena Williams concluded her illustrious career with an Open Era record of 23 Grand Slam singles titles, a figure that stands as a significant benchmark in women’s tennis. Sabalenka, currently with four Grand Slam singles titles to her name, acknowledges the immense gap and the difficulty of reaching such a historic achievement. Her victories include consecutive Australian Open titles in 2023 and 2024, and back-to-back US Open titles in 2024 and 2025.
Sabalenka’s Philosophy: Focus on Self-Improvement
“All of us want to beat all the records, I think it’s so obvious,” Sabalenka stated, reflecting on the natural ambition of top athletes. However, she quickly pivoted to her personal approach, emphasizing a focus on intrinsic growth. “I think the right thing to do is focus on yourself, on your game, on developing yourself as the player and the person and if you deserve these big titles, if you deserve to beat some records, you will. So my focus is on developing myself as a player.”
This perspective highlights a mature understanding of her journey and the pressures associated with high-level professional tennis. While the desire to achieve is present, Sabalenka prioritizes continuous improvement and trusts that results will follow.
Navigating Comparisons and Personal Goals
Sabalenka’s candidness extends to her assessment of her own power on court. In June 2025, she confidently stated that she “never played anyone more powerful than me,” a statement that included Serena Williams. She clarified that while her 2021 Australian Open match against Williams was a battle of power hitters, Williams’ superior physicality and ability to return more balls were the deciding factors, not an inherent power difference.
Despite these comparisons, Sabalenka maintains a grounded outlook. “And of course, I want to, but it’s going to be really tough to compete with the Grand Slam titles that Serena has,” she admitted. Her ultimate goal, she explains, is to maximize her potential in the sport. “I guess for me, the goal is to go as far as I can in this sport, and I do my best every day. I dedicate my life to the sport. So I really hope that by the end of my career, I’ll sit back, I’ll look at my results, and I’ll be really proud of myself.”
A Dominant Force in Her Own Right
Even without surpassing Williams’ Grand Slam record, Sabalenka has firmly established herself as one of the most dominant players of her generation. She became world No. 1 in October 2024 and has maintained her top ranking through a string of impressive performances. She has achieved significant milestones, including becoming only the second woman since Serena Williams to surpass 12,000 WTA ranking points. Her consistency in Grand Slams is also notable, having reached ten semifinals in the last eleven majors she has played.
While the discussion around breaking records will inevitably continue, Aryna Sabalenka’s focus remains clear: to forge her own path, driven by dedication, continuous improvement, and a desire to leave a legacy she can be proud of.
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