"I hate losing. I hate the feeling when I lose a match", Sabalenka said after winning the Miami Open on 29/3. "I always think about tennis. When I lose, I cannot sleep. I hate myself for the mistakes that cause me to lose matches".

Sabalenka stated that past losses in Grand Slam finals heavily impacted her mindset. However, the Belarusian player also emphasized that this very feeling motivates her to compete with the utmost determination every time she steps onto the court, always striving to do everything possible to win.

"Going into the Miami final, I told myself I could not lose this match", Sabalenka added. "I will fight for every point and not let anything affect me. I must always stay focused and find solutions when needed".

Sabalenka celebrates her championship title after the Miami Open final, at Hard Rock stadium, Miami, Florida, US on 29/3. Photo: Reuters

This shift in mindset contributed to Sabalenka defeating Coco Gauff 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in the final. The 27-year-old completed the "Sunshine Double" by winning the Indian Wells Open and Miami Open consecutively. In both tournaments, Sabalenka reached the final without dropping a set, before beating Elena Rybakina and Gauff respectively in three sets.

"I constantly reminded myself that I am strong enough", Sabalenka added. "I have trained very hard, so when I doubt myself, I pull myself back and think: ‘No, you are good enough to do this’".

Throughout her career, Sabalenka has lost many major matches, including three Grand Slam finals since early 2025, to Madison Keys, Rybakina, and Gauff. Off the court, Sabalenka recently got engaged before Indian Wells and adopted a new dog.

"Right now I feel like I am living a dream", Sabalenka said, explaining that mental stability helps her play better. "There are times when you are very emotional and forget everything, leading to poor results. But in the most recent finals, I maintained a steady and positive mindset".

Vy Anh