Aryna Sabalenka addresses ‘shocking’ retirement goals and when she wants to ‘have a child’

Aryna Sabalenka doesn't want to have kids at 35, which is why she might do what several women tennis players have done before.

Aryna Sabalenka addresses ‘shocking’ retirement goals and when she wants to ‘have a child’

Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X)

Aryna Sabalenka is at the peak of her career, having won three Grand Slam singles titles and is working toward maintaining her position on the top of the WTA rankings. Sabalenka is in Melbourne to defend the Australian Open.

Ahead of her first-round match, Sabalenka talked about how she felt older during her match against 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva during an exhibition event. The Belarusian also joked that as she will soon turn 27, she feels she’s close to retirement.

YouTube video

I’m 27 this year. You know that I played an exhibition with Mirra Andreeva. And I am nine years older than her…nine years older than Mirra! Being a professional athlete, I am kind of like getting really close to my retirement. Can you believe that? People are retiring at 30?

Aryna Sabalenka said (via Australian Open TV)

When Saalenka was asked when exactly she wants to retire, she talked about doing what several women tennis players have done before.

FS Video

I don’t know it’s a tough question. I hope I’ll have a family. I love kids, I want to have kids and I don’t want to have like first kid at 35. The way I see it, I really want to have kid and then come back and I want my kid to see how hard you should work in life to get things.

Aryna Sabalenka added
RELATED
Elena Rybakina hits out at Hall of Famer for ‘unfair’ comments on coach Stefano Vukov
Elena Rybakina, Stefano Vukov

Aryna Sabalenka hopes to put her name next to legends after possibly winning her third Australian Open

Aryna Sabalenka will be bidding to win the Australian Open for the third time in a row. If she wins the title, she will become the first player since Martina Hingis in 1999 to complete a threepeat in Melbourne.

Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka (via SACAS)

Putting your name into history and being next to those legends, it’s something special. [Winning three in a row] would be huge, but I have to focus on myself, bring my best tennis every time I’m out there, and hopefully put my name next to those legends.

Aryna Sabalenka said at the press conference

Sabalenka won her first Grand Slam title at the 2023 Australian Open with a three-set win over Elena Rybakina in the final. Last year, the World No.1 breezed past Qinwen Zheng in straight sets to defend her title.

RELATED
Novak Djokovic dismisses ‘ridiculous’ controversy with Jannik Sinner after ‘skiing’ remark
Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic (via X)

Sabalenka arrived in Melbourne on the back of a successful campaign at the Brisbane International, where in the final, she defeated Polina Kudermetova in three sets. In the ongoing tournament, Sabalenka kickstarted her campaign with a first-round match against America’s Sloane Stephens.