Aryna Sabalenka, currently the world No. 1 in women’s tennis, has faced a series of setbacks at major tournaments despite her top ranking. Her recent loss to Diana Shnaider at the French Open highlighted a familiar pattern of near victories followed by dramatic collapses, a cycle that Sabalenka and her team have learned to confront with a structured routine focused on recovery and reflection.

Following her defeat at Roland Garros, where she lost 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 after holding match points, Sabalenka openly expressed frustration, even saying she wanted to quit tennis. However, with Wimbledon just over three weeks away, there was no time for discouragement. Sabalenka’s inner circle, including her mental and physical performance coach Jason Stacy, coach Anton Dubrov, physiotherapist Helen Murawska, and her fiancé Georgios Frangulis, quickly regrouped to conduct a thorough assessment of the factors leading to the loss. This process, described by Stacy as a “psychological autopsy,” involves examining the mental and physical states before and during the match, identifying missed signals, assessing responses, and considering new strategies to handle pressure.

This cycle of intense scrutiny and rebuilding is familiar territory for Sabalenka. Her team emphasizes the importance of ownership and accountability, aiming to develop mental tools such as breathing techniques, meditation, and visualization that resonate personally with the player. Stacy stresses that any approach must feel authentic to Sabalenka, as superficial positive thinking alone is unlikely to be effective. Their work is anchored in long-standing principles of loyalty and trust, values Stacy ties back to his background in martial arts.

Sabalenka, 28, has publicly acknowledged her imperfections and the emotional swings that come with competition. She has made progress in managing these moments, crediting her growth to the supportive, steady environment cultivated by her team. Her past experiences include a high-profile collapse at the French Open final against Coco Gauff last year, followed by a public apology and a visible effort to rebuild relations with competitors. That summer, she claimed victory over Amanda Anisimova to win the U.S. Open for the second consecutive year, demonstrating resilience despite the turmoil.

Throughout her career, Sabalenka’s formidable strengths—power and intensity—have sometimes contributed to challenges under pressure. She has endured fluctuating results this season, including an Australian Open runner-up finish to Elena Rybakina, titles in Indian Wells and Miami, but also earlier-than-expected defeats at major tournaments and inconsistent performances on grass and clay surfaces. Her record in finals reflects this complexity: strong on hard courts with 21 wins to 10 losses, less so on clay with three titles but a negative overall record, and no finals appearances on grass, including at Wimbledon.

Coach Dubrov, who has worked with Sabalenka for five years—a notably long partnership in modern tennis—has at times questioned his own effectiveness given these patterns. Yet Sabalenka has expressed confidence in the stability their collaboration provides. With the U.S. Open approaching, played on Sabalenka’s favored hardcourt surface where she has triumphed in recent years, both player and team are focused on harnessing their experience to overcome setbacks and pursue further success.