Cosmo Sports: Aryna Sabalenka
“Even when you hold the trophy, all you remember is the struggle.”
“A lot of tennis is in your head. You’re always talking to yourself and dealing with emotional moments.”
You haven’t met this version of Aryna Sabalenka yet. She’s currently the number one women’s tennis player in the world, a three-time Grand Slam winner, and the reigning US Open champion. For her, winning is everything, but it’s not the only thing. For the latest edition of Cosmopolitan’s Cosmo Spots franchise, the Belarusian athlete shows off a side of her we’ve never seen before, opening up about how she prevents burnout, her skincare routine, her dreams beyond the tennis court, her favorite pre-match song, and more.
Select quotes from Aryna Sabalenka’s Cosmo Sports feature are below, and the full interview, including a day-in-the-life photo portfolio, is available on Cosmopolitan’s website at: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/a65289344/aryna-sabalenka-cosmo-sports-interview-2025/
On possessing both a lightness and an unrelenting intensity:
“I can be pretty tough sometimes, but overall, I think I’m more of a chill person. When I compete, I am a tiger—I’m fighting for my dreams out there; there’s no time to be nice. But I’m also definitely fun and easygoing, too.”
On what she would tell her younger self:
“I would tell her to enjoy the journey because even when you hold the trophy, all you remember is the struggle—what you went through and what it took to be in your position. Life is tough, but I always find that something good comes after tough times.”
On how she worked through things mentally when, in 2022, she was struggling with her serve and considered quitting tennis:
“It was such a long process. A lot of tennis is in your head. You’re always talking to yourself and dealing with emotional moments. We truly tried everything to fix my serve and nothing worked. I thought maybe it was a sign to quit and do something else. But it ended up being a turning point for me. I stayed with it, worked even harder, and mentally, I found myself. I got through by trying over and over again. I talked a lot with my team and brought new people into the team. It’s very important to have the right people around you, especially during those moments. It’s all about support.”
On what qualities she looks for when bringing someone on to her team and how they would describe her:
“Loyalty, connection, and character are super important to me. I need to trust the person, feel safe around them, and know that there’s not going to be any leak of information or anything like that. I call my team a family. It’s important to bring good people into the family….I think they would describe me as someone who is ready to help whenever. I’m the kind of person that if someone around me needs help, I’m gonna do everything I can for them.”
On what her inner monologue sounds like during tough moments:
“You’re always talking to yourself and dealing with emotional moments. There’s a bad mindset and a good mindset you have, and you are just trying to balance them during the match. It’s a fight, it’s tough, but it’s also beautiful if you can get through it and you can get those wins. Then you feel super proud and like you improved. That’s the beauty of the sport.”
On what dreams she has beyond tennis:
“I would love to write a book. I also want to have a brand, something fashion-related or maybe beauty products. It’s a very tough business to get into, but I would love to try.”
On her skincare routine:
“I cannot stop ordering and trying beauty products. My routine is a lot of moisturizing and serums. I have a lot of devices, too, like one from Medicube. The device is strong, and I can see and feel it working. I do a lot of masks and facials. Most of my treatments I do at home by myself. Whenever I get a good recommendation, I’ll go, but I actually just did my own facial yesterday. I do it whenever I have a minute.”
On how she prevents burnout during a long season:
“Doing stuff I enjoy—a quick vacation, a good dinner. If it’s during the tournament, I’ll go shopping or watch fun movies. I love to do social media stuff. I love to share myself with people. When I have a little time after practice, I go on TikTok, find a cool dance, and do it as part of my recovery routine. Other times, I just want quiet time somewhere or to stay home watching Netflix and drinking tea and having cookies. It’s nice to just switch off.”
On the support she gets from her boyfriend, Georgios Frangulis:
“It’s very important for me to have my partner next to me. It’s really cool that his work is also global. I realize not everyone is as lucky as me to have a partner who can travel with me and my crazy schedule while still working. It’s just cool to see him in the box when I play. He motivates me to keep going. It means a lot.”
On her ideal date night:
“It’s different all the time. Sometimes it’s just Netflix, and sometimes I like to go for a good dinner and listen to music.”
On her favorite pre-match song:
“‘We Are the People’ by Empire of the Sun.”
