“You Have to Be Mean”: Sabalenka Owns Her On Court Persona in Brutally Honest Confession

Aryna Sabalenka has never been one to hold back not in rallies, not in finals, and certainly not in interviews.

The world No. 1, fresh off her Madrid Open triumph, gave a characteristically blunt assessment of her on-court personality, describing herself as “very unpleasant” and admitting that to win at the highest level, “you have to be mean.”

In an interview with Bolshe!, the Belarusian opened up about the fierce intensity that fuels her dominance on the WTA Tour. “I can say that I am a very unpleasant person on the court. I am downright nasty,” she confessed. “Probably bchy. In short, a bch, yes. That’s how they called me here. I think you have to be mean, hungry, greedy and very unpleasant.”

The comments might raise eyebrows, but for those who’ve followed Sabalenka’s rise to the top, they ring true. Her blend of raw power, competitive fire, and never-back-down spirit has made her one of the most intimidating forces in the game.

But off the court, Sabalenka is a different story all smiles, jokes, and charm. It’s a duality she embraces fully.

“You can be a good person, a good girl off the court,” she added, “but on the court, it’s a battle. It’s war.”

That mindset has taken her to new heights in 2025. With titles in Brisbane, Miami, and now Madrid where she defeated Coco Gauff 6-3, 7-6(3) in the final Sabalenka has extended her lead at the top of the rankings to a massive 4,345 points. She’s reached six finals already this year, also finishing runner-up at the Australian Open, Indian Wells, and Stuttgart.

Asked about her 3-3 finals record this season ahead of her Italian Open campaign, Sabalenka was philosophical: “Honestly, that’s a good problem to have. Some of the finals I lost were really heartbreaking, but you have to learn, accept, and come back stronger.”

And strong she has been. Sabalenka is riding a six-match win streak into Rome, where she’s chasing her first Italian Open crown after finishing as runner-up to Iga Swiatek last year.

“I’m actually proud I was able to come back in those finals and change things,” she said. “To see if the lesson was learned and bring better tennis in the next one.”

With that attitude equal parts hunger and humility it’s no wonder she’s leading the pack. Unpleasant on court? Maybe. Unstoppable? Almost certainly.