On Purpose with Jay Shetty: US OPEN CHAMPION Aryna Sabalenka EXCLUSIVE

Transforming Doubt, Pressure & Loss into HUGE Success

Date: September 10, 2025
Host: Jay Shetty
Guest: Aryna Sabalenka, Two-Time US Open Champion

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode dives deep into the mindset, journey, and resilience of Aryna Sabalenka, fresh off her second consecutive US Open victory. Jay Shetty guides Sabalenka through reflections on overcoming setbacks, navigating pressure, finding purpose, coping with personal loss, and what it means to be a champion—both on and off the court. The candid conversation is packed with strategies for transforming doubts and hardships into success, while also showcasing Aryna’s personal story, her motivations, and her advice for aspiring champions in any walk of life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Meaning of Winning and Handling Loss

[03:40–05:16]

• Sabalenka describes how winning a Grand Slam "feels like the biggest thing that happened to you" every time, but notes that this win feels “like my first Grand Slam” given the struggles she faced this season.
• She struggled after losing two Grand Slam finals earlier in the year:
  “It feels like it sort of slips away... you’re really depressed. Me, personally, I want to leave the place as soon as possible...” –Aryna Sabalenka [05:34]
• Sabalenka doesn't rewatch her losing finals, instead letting her team “bring her the lessons.” Watching triggers too much pain:
  “For my mental health, it’s better not to watch.” –Aryna Sabalenka [07:10]

2. Processing Emotions & Mental Preparation

[08:22–12:30]

• The preparation for Grand Slams involves immense physical and mental rigor, but also a crowded schedule with media and sponsors.
• Sabalenka opens up about her internal dialogue, saying the real competition happens inside your head: “It’s normal to feel nervous... everyone’s adapting his ability... you never know... So before the tournament, I prepare myself that I am ready to handle anything…” –Aryna Sabalenka [10:29]
• She emphasizes accepting her nervousness and negative thoughts rather than resisting:
  “The moment when you try to make things go away, they actually grow more...” [10:29]
  • Jay expands:
    “What you resist, persists... As soon as you accept it, you’re fine. When you reject it, it just gets bigger.” [12:18]

3. Identity Beyond the Court & Celebrating Success

[13:32–16:46]

• Sabalenka is adamant about celebrating victories as a necessary part of success: “...When you finally able to win something big for you, I think it’s important to celebrate that moment because you never know when this moment’s going to happen again.” [15:39]
• She celebrates with her team and internally:
  “In my head, I just tell myself, okay, I’m proud to have this trophy.” [16:18]

4. Aryna’s Roots: Childhood & Family Influence

[17:24–20:49]

• Sabalenka attributes her playful and positive personality to her father: “I remember watching my dad being really like, funny guy... I want to become this kind of person...” [17:59]
• Tennis was introduced incidentally by her dad, seeking an outlet for his active daughter, despite him being a former hockey player.

5. Social Media, Comparisons, and Finding Your Path

[21:36–24:24]

• Aryna wasn’t strongly influenced by idols, explaining that lack of social media freed her from constant comparison: “It’s important to find something that you love, truly love—not like because you see like social media posts...” [23:46]

6. Routine, Recovery, and Self-Leadership

[24:37–28:06]

• Sabalenka describes her tournament routines, emphasizing the importance of sleep, taking it easy on non-match days, and enjoying food (avocado toast with eggs and smoked salmon).
• She worked with a sports psychologist but shifted to leading herself:
  “At some point I decided, okay, I have to take responsibility over my actions... I stopped working with psychologists. That was the moment when I started learning about myself.” [25:36]

7. Personal Life Balance and Gender Equality in Sport

[32:27–35:34]

• Aryna balances her aggressive, focused on-court persona with a fun-loving off-court life.
• On pay equality:
  “Of course we’re all fighting for equal prize money and everything... the work that we put in, it’s equal to the work that they put in.” [33:51]

8. Fashion, Personality, and being a Role Model

[35:39–37:16]

• Aryna enjoys expressing herself through fashion on the court, seeing it as a bridge to culture and visibility for the sport.
• She aspires to be a good example for the next generation:
  “That’s the goal in life, and I always wanted to be a good example for the next generation.” [53:23]

9. Grief, Resilience, and Motivation

[37:22–41:02]

• The sudden loss of her father was a crucial turning point:
  “Losing him was a tough moment, but I took it as a motivation to put the family name in the history.” [38:00]
• Processing grief meant channeling pain into practice and competition.

10. Love, Acceptance, and Success

[41:57–44:40]

• Sabalenka discusses love as comfort, acceptance, and enjoying a person unconditionally.
• Redefines success as consistency:
  “For me, success is the discipline that you put in... being able to be there every morning, every practice, doesn’t matter how you feel... That’s success.” [43:54–44:40]

11. Perseverance, Setbacks, and Advice to Young Athletes

[46:27–48:31]

• She almost gave up tennis three years ago due to severe struggles with her serve but persisted to her first Slam victory. “Universe, God, you call [it] however you want it, sends those challenges because you can handle it and for a reason.” [47:58]
• On advice to youth:
  “Surround yourself with the right people. That’s the main thing. Because with the right people, you can achieve anything.” [53:44]

12. Rituals, Opponents, and Daily Habits

[49:33–52:30]

• Tournament ritual: same breakfast every day—a very specific avocado toast with eggs and smoked salmon.
• Mental toughness:
  “Your biggest mental competitor is always yourself.” [52:27]
• Hardest physical opponents: Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek [52:39]

13. Arena’s Arena & Sharing Her Journey

[56:21–57:00]

• Launch of “Arena’s Arena” to give fans deeper access and show young fans that “you don’t have to be perfect to be successful.”

14. The Individual and the Team in Tennis

[61:17–62:48]

• As the player, all the team’s efforts channel through her performance: “When I’m there competing, I’m not only competing for myself, I compete for my team. But I’m responsible for that, on my own.” [62:09]

15. Rest, Celebration, and Longevity

[64:32–66:42]

• Emphasizes the importance of rest and celebrating after big wins for emotional well-being and future motivation.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On persistent self-doubt and lessons from loss:
  "Losing in the final... it feels like it sort of slips away. You’re really depressed. Me personally, I want to leave the place as soon as possible... but then I need some time to sit back, analyze, learn the lesson."
  —Aryna Sabalenka [05:34]

• On the inner dialogue of a champion:
  "If someone would hear my conversation in my head throughout this three week period, they would think, 'Okay, something wrong with this person,' because it's constant conversation.”
  —Aryna Sabalenka [09:57]

• On accepting nerves and anxiety before big matches:
  "The moment when you try to make things go away, they actually grow more... So I’m just trying to tell myself it’s okay to feel that."
  —Aryna Sabalenka [10:29]

• On celebration and giving permission:
  “You have to celebrate... whatever achievement you achieve, you have to go and just have a little moment for yourself.”
  —Aryna Sabalenka [15:39]

• On her father's passing & motivation:
  “Losing him was a tough moment, but I took it as a motivation to put the family name in the history.”
  —Aryna Sabalenka [38:00]

• On daily success and consistency:
  “For me, success is the discipline that you put in... being able to be there every morning, every practice, doesn’t matter how you feel. That’s success.”
  —Aryna Sabalenka [43:54]

• On never giving up:
  "Universe, God—you call it however you want it—sends those challenges because you can handle it and for a reason."
  —Aryna Sabalenka [47:58]

• Advice to young athletes:
  “Surround yourself with the right people. That’s the main thing. Because with the right people, you can achieve anything.”
  —Aryna Sabalenka [53:44]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:40 – Winning Grand Slams: feelings and meaning
• 04:38 – Processing loss and not watching losing matches
• 08:22 – Preparing mentally and physically for tournament intensity
• 10:29 – Internal conversation and handling nerves
• 15:39 – The need to celebrate achievements
• 17:59 – Family and childhood influence
• 23:46 – Social media, comparison, and forging your own path
• 25:36 – Working with (and moving beyond) a sports psychologist
• 33:51 – Gender equality in tennis
• 38:00 – Losing her father and finding motivation
• 43:54 – Defining success by discipline and consistency
• 47:58 – Overcoming setbacks and advice to persevere
• 52:27 – Aryna on her toughest mental competitor
• 53:44 – Sabalenka's advice for young athletes
• 62:09 – The balance of individual and team in tennis
• 66:42 – The critical role of rest and celebration in longevity

Tone & Language

The episode is warm, candid, and honest, balancing raw emotion with practical wisdom. Aryna Sabalenka’s humor, positivity, and candor shine through, matched by Jay Shetty’s empathetic and insightful questioning. The language is conversational, emotionally intelligent, and peppered with inspirational moments and relatable anecdotes.

Closing Reflections

Aryna Sabalenka’s story is a masterclass in resilience, acceptance, and growth. Listeners are reminded that even top champions wrestle with doubt, setbacks, and loss—and that mental health, self-acceptance, perseverance, and genuine celebration are essential ingredients to a fulfilled and successful journey.

Final Five (Quickfire Wisdom)

[70:49–79:54]

1. Best Advice:
   "Focus on yourself and don't listen to people because most of the people want you to fail. So focus on yourself and on people close to you."
   –from her father [70:57]

2. Worst Advice:
   “Bad things never stay in my head.” [72:53]

3. Three Life-Changing Matches:

   • US Open semifinal vs. Madison Keys (coming back from 1-5 down)
   • Winning her first Grand Slam
   • Quarterfinals in Doha after battling through adversity

4. Misunderstandings:

   • Her aggressive on-court demeanor does not reflect her off-court self: “Off the court, I’m much nicer, chill—it’s really tough to get into a fight with me.” [76:38]

5. One Law for the World:
   "Everything to be decided in conversation... Just like, sit down, speak, and figure out all of the problems." [79:23]

Recommended For:

• Aspiring athletes, coaches, and anyone facing pressure
• Listeners interested in personal growth, mental health, and peak performance
• Fans of tennis and inspirational life stories

For a full experience, dive into the episode to hear Aryna’s unique laughter, Jay’s compassionate presence, and the dynamic chemistry that brings out exclusive insights from one of the world’s top athletes.