World number one Aryna Sabalenka has expressed her desire to become the 'grandma' of women's tennis, drawing inspiration from the remarkable longevity displayed by Novak Djokovic and other veterans on the men's professional circuit.
Inspired by Djokovic's Enduring Career
The Belarusian star, who has already secured four Grand Slam titles at just 27 years old, has been particularly impressed by how players like 38-year-old Djokovic and 40-year-old Stan Wawrinka continue to compete at the highest level. Wawrinka recently captivated audiences with a gruelling five-set victory to advance to the third round of the Australian Open men's singles.
Sabalenka believes that age is becoming increasingly irrelevant in modern sport, telling reporters after her victory over Anastasia Potapova at Rod Laver Arena: "I feel like there is no age anymore in sport. It depends how you approach everything and if you have a smart team around you."
Planning for Motherhood and a Comeback
The reigning Australian Open favourite, who reached the fourth round for the sixth consecutive year on Friday, has not placed any time restrictions on her professional career. She revealed ambitious plans that combine family life with continued competition.
"Ideally for me, I would love to ... maybe have kids at 32 or something," Sabalenka explained. "But knowing me, I know that I love to accept tough challenges. So I feel like even after having kids I would love to challenge myself, like, coming back and see if I still have it."
Her ultimate vision involves extending her playing days well into her thirties, potentially returning to the tour after starting a family. "So probably we're going to see me being that grandma on tour trying. Hopefully, I'll be pushing these young girls," she added with characteristic determination.
Next Challenge Against Rising Star
Sabalenka's 7-6(4) 7-6(7) victory over Potapova sets up an intriguing fourth-round encounter with one of tennis's most promising young talents. She will face Canada's 19-year-old Victoria Mboko, who has reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her Australian Open debut after defeating 14th seed Clara Tauson.
This will mark the first career meeting between the established world number one and the emerging teenager, creating a compelling generational clash at Melbourne Park.
Praising the New Generation's Maturity
Reflecting on the new wave of young players achieving success at increasingly early ages, Sabalenka acknowledged their impressive mental fortitude. The Belarusian, who herself struggled with emotional control during her early career development, expressed admiration for how today's teenagers handle professional pressure.
"I feel like maybe for me it would be really tough to handle the success at a young age," she admitted. "But I feel like now seeing these girls, at so young achieving so much, playing such great tennis, being really mature, it's incredible. I feel like they mature much faster than I did."
As Sabalenka continues her pursuit of a third Australian Open crown, her comments reveal a player thinking well beyond immediate tournaments, envisioning a career that could redefine expectations about longevity in women's professional tennis.
