Champagne and Books: Aryna Sabalenka's Unique Path to US Open Glory

Aryna Sabalenka's Winning Streak: The Champion's Secret to Success

The tennis world was abuzz as Aryna Sabalenka celebrated her US Open title in style, and we're not just talking about her impressive on-court performance. Behind the scenes, a juicy mix of champagne, giddy teammates, and tipsy press conferences made for a truly unforgettable experience.

Sabalenka's back-to-back champion status has earned her the right to party like a rockstar, and she's doing it in style. In a locker room scene reminiscent of a football team's championship celebration, Sabalenka and her team drenched each other in Moet and Chandon. The world No1 even donned Moet goggles to protect her eyes from the spray, while clutching an open bottle and announcing, "Hello everybody! It's going to be a fun media."

But the real story behind Sabalenka's winning streak is not just about the champagne – it's about the mental game. After struggling with emotions in previous tournaments, including a heart-wrenching loss to Coco Gauff in the French Open final, Sabalenka took drastic measures to calm her nerves.

She headed off to Mykonos for a well-deserved break, but instead of just lounging on the beach, she dived headfirst into self-improvement. According to her coach, Jason Stacey, Sabalenka began reading "Into the Magic Shop," a book that would change her life forever.

Written by neuroscientist James R Doty, this book explores the power of the human brain and how we can control our thoughts and emotions. Sabalenka credits it with helping her stay focused and centered, even in the most high-pressure moments.

"It's about learning to control yourself, not overthink," she said. "I had so many friends recommending it, saying 'Oh my God, you have to read it.' It was the right moment for me to go for that book."

Sabalenka's newfound mental toughness was put to the test in her US Open final match against Anisimova. The Belarusian star produced a defensive performance of which fans would not have thought her capable, slicing and redirecting Anisimova's aggressive groundstrokes.

"I think at Wimbledon I was overthinking," Sabalenka confessed. "I was doubting my decisions, stopping my arms, making mistakes... So going into this match, I knew it was going to be a fast game, very aggressive. I was just trying to stay low and put the pressure back on her."

As she celebrated her victory with champagne and confetti, Sabalenka made sure to dedicate her win to her late father, Sergey. The 43-year-old had passed away in 2019, leaving behind a devastated family.

"When he passed away, I was very depressed," Sabalenka said, her voice cracking with emotion. "But in that moment, I decided to take it as motivation... I want to believe and think his protection is still with me. He became my power."

As the tennis world watches Sabalenka's winning streak continue, one thing is clear: this champion has finally found her inner peace – and it's a recipe for success.

Sources:

• "Into the Magic Shop" by James R Doty
• TheScholarlyNote.com

[TheScholarlyNote.com]