Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus became a three-time Grand Slam champion by defeating American Jessica Pegula in the 2024 US Open final, adding to her two previous major titles from the Australian Open. When asked if she thought about her place in tennis history, Sabalenka revealed that the goal has been in her heart ever since losing her father.
Speaking to the press after her US Open victory, the 26-year-old Sabalenka said:
“After I lost my father, it’s always been my goal to put our family name in the history of tennis. Every time I see my name on that trophy, I’m so proud of myself—I’m proud of my family, that they never gave up on my dream, that they were doing everything they could to keep me going and so I had this opportunity in life.