Jay Shetty & & Aryna Sabalenka ON Transforming Doubt & Loss into Success

Can a champion truly find relief after reaching the pinnacle of their sport?

In this On Purpose episode, Jay Shetty welcomed tennis superstar Aryna Sabalenka to the podcast just 48 hours after her victory in the US Open women's final. Salabenka is a Belarusian tennis player and a powerhouse in modern tennis, known for her explosive strength, fearless gameplay, and commanding presence on the court. A multiple Grand Slam champion, she’s earned a reputation for turning intensity into artistry with every match. During this interview, she took listeners behind closed doors and shared personal stories about her journey, successes, and other personal topics.

Learning From Victories and Failures

Winning a major title is an extraordinary accomplishment, but Sabalenka emphasized that each and every one has a unique meaning, based on the challenges an athlete faced prior to the event. She told Jay Shetty that every victory feels like the best thing that's ever happened to her, and that it always feels incredible.

But the victory is not always guaranteed. Sabalenka shared with Jay Shetty that losing two Grand Slam finals considerably impacted her, although she now sees those setbacks as tough lessons she had to learn. When she secured the US Open trophy, she felt amazing because she understood she had learned from her previous losses and had evolved as a player. Yet apart from the technical part, Sabalenka also learned to better control her emotions and not let them impact her game.

Aryna Sabalenka told Jay Shetty that while winning brings joy, losing a final is deeply painful: it feels like your dream is slipping through your fingers. She admitted that she never watches the games she lost, but she welcomes the feedback from her team, who analyze them for her. Sabalenka knows that learning from your mistakes is crucial, especially if you want to evolve and become better at your craft.

The Unseen Intensity of Tournament Preparation

The preparations for a two-week Grand Slam tournament are often far longer than the competition itself. Aryna Sabalenka shared with Jay Shetty that physical and mental challenges alike begin weeks in advance, including preparatory tournaments leading up to the major event. The week preceding the Grand Slam is exceptionally busy because it focuses on both training and preparation, but it also encompasses other off-court obligations, such as brand collaborations, dinners, meetings, and interviews.

Sabalenka pointed out that some of these off-court preparations are unknown to the public, but they impact an athlete's energy, too. She told Jay Shetty that the mental preparation is heavy, as well, as it requires relentless internal dialogue. She admitted that if anyone could hear her internal monologue in the weeks before a tournament, they would be surprised by how incessant it is.

Sabalenka tells herself before the tournament that she is ready for what's coming, and she believes that many people do the same before confronting a challenge of any nature. This inner pep talk helps her feel more prepared when facing her opponents on the tennis court.

Jay Shetty added that what you resist persists, so acceptance is important to calm the mind. On the other hand, rejection makes an already uncomfortable emotion feel bigger. Sabalenka admitted that early in her career, she thought she was the only one nervous in a game, believing her opponent was calm. Once she realized that everyone experiences their own struggles, she understood that they were both in the same situation, and it would all come down to who did better on the court.

Success Is Discipline

Aryna Sabalenka told Jay Shetty that it's essential to celebrate your accomplishments; you worked so hard for them, so you need to relish the moment, especially after facing struggles, difficult matches, or defeats. She believes it's important to enjoy the victory because you never know when the next one will come.

Aryna Sabalenka shared that her celebration involves her team, because the trophy is "our trophy." She also makes sure to have an internal celebration, because it's something no one can take away from her. But Sabalenka doesn't measure success by external wins only, but also by discipline. If you show up on difficult days, it means that you love what you do and that you are dedicated to success.

The Foundations of Identity

When asked about a childhood memory that shaped her identity, Aryna Sabalenka immediately thought of her father. She looked up to him and aspired to be a positive person who made everyone around him feel happy and smile. He was also funny, so she believes it's him that she inherited her funny, playful personality from.

Sabalenka's father introduced her to tennis. She told Jay Shetty that she had been a very active child and that her father wanted to help her find an outlet for that energy, so they settled on tennis. Sabalenka fell in love with the sport, and this is how her tennis career began. Her father was a great supporter, and he didn't pressure her to always win, but he instilled in her the idea of giving her best, no matter what.

Help and Motivation Should Come From Within

Aryna Sabalenka admitted to Jay Shetty that, growing up, she didn't have an idol. She spent her time training, going to school, and having fun outside, and didn't spend much time on the internet. She had seen Serena Williams dominating and wished to be like her one day, but she couldn't say she had one specific idol.

Sabalenka explained that, while social media provides access to useful information, it is also a source of sorrow, because many tend to compare themselves with others on the internet. Not having access to social media as an athlete can help you define who you are and prevent the insecurities that arise from constant comparisons. This is why Sabalenka believes it's essential to find something you love and dedicate your time and energy to that particular thing instead of watching others do so.

Aryna Sabalenka worked with a sports psychologist for four or five years, and additionally engaged in meditation. However, she realized that she was heavily relying on professionals to fix her problems and was repeating the same mistakes over and over. That's when she decided to stop going to therapy and own her actions.

This shift helped Sabalenka understand herself better and gain better emotional control and balance. She discussed with Jay Shetty that she finds it beneficial to get the appropriate professional support when needed, but not to get dependent on it. She added that people must learn to figure things out by themselves, too.

Channeling Loss into Motivation

Aryna Sabalenka opened up to Jay Shetty about the difficult time when her father passed away. They had a close relationship and similar personalities, and losing him affected her deeply. Sabalenka's father understood her struggles on the court, and a simple call with him would often help her make sense of her situation.

While losing someone you love is never easy, Sabalenka chose to honor his eternal presence in her heart. She is grateful for the way he raised her, and his loss became another motivation to succeed. However, it wasn't easy from the beginning; she often cried alone, not to upset her mother, and used training as a coping mechanism. The court was the only place where she wouldn't think of her sadness. But the moment the practice was over, the thoughts would return, and she would find herself devastated once more.

Sabalenka understood that she had no control over death, and that gave her the power to move on. She loved her father deeply, and to her, love is an emotion that is difficult to explain with words. She described it to Jay Shetty as a feeling of completeness and comfort with a person, accepting all their good and bad parts. It's also accepting someone for who they are, without wanting to change them, and understanding that people are shaped by the experiences they have survived.

Success Depends on Your Team

Although tennis is an individual sport, Aryna Sabalenka stressed the crucial role of her team in her success. She told Jay Shetty she runs to her team first after a win because she knows how much work they've invested in supporting her. Because of that, she feels a strong sense of responsibility when competing; she wants her team (coaches, agent, physio) to be considered the best, and that depends on her performance on the tennis court.

Sabalenka advises young athletes to surround themselves with the right people, who will support them on their journey. She stressed that finding the right individuals, who give off good energy, fit well together, and are on the same frequency, is challenging and takes time. It won't all happen at once, and people may come and go until you've found your team. But once you find the core people, you should stick to that group because they will give you the necessary energy and power to keep going, she added.

Aryna Sabalenka, the Person

Sabalenka told Jay Shetty that she loves fashion and she finds it important to look good on court, which makes her feel good about herself. She learned about mixing colors and looks and admits that shopping is her weakness. As soon as a match finishes, she makes sure to return to her polished look and accessories, which she calls the "fashion part of the game."

Currently, Sabalenka prioritizes recovery, which she now recognizes is just as important as hard work. She learned that simple pleasures (like going for dinner during a tournament) are necessary for mental health and balance, and not a distraction, as she used to believe. She shared with Jay Shetty that her regular ritual is her breakfast, which needs to be perfect.

Apart from being a celebrated athlete, Sabalenka also wants to be a good example for the next generation. She wishes to continue her journey in tennis, but would also love to become a role model and source of inspiration for young people. To her, that is what really matters in life.

More From Jay Shetty

Listen to the entire On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast episode “US OPEN CHAMPION Aryna Sabalenka EXCLUSIVE: Transforming Doubt, Pressure & Loss into HUGE Success” now in the iTunes store or on Spotify. For more inspirational stories and messages like this, check out Jay’s website at jayshetty.me.