Aryna Sabalenka is off to winning ways at the 2025 Australian Open as she looks to secure a third successive title.
Sabalenka has backed Carlos Alcaraz for success this season, but the former also looks certain to continue her WTA dominance.
Like Alcaraz, Sabalenka won two Grand Slams in 2024, with the world number one triumphing at the Australian Open and US Open.
She is now into the second round in Melbourne after knocking out Sloane Stephens, with Sabalenka needing just over an hour to clinch a 6-3, 6-2 win.
The 26-year-old is seeking a fourth Grand Slam title this month, having won the US Open along with her two Australian Open titles.
WTA number one Aryna Sabalenka says she is ‘getting closer’ to retirement
But the Belarusian has now discussed the idea of retirement given her plans to have a family, with Sabalenka having almost quit tennis three years ago.
Speaking to Australian Open TV, the world number one said: “I am nine years older than Mirra [Andreeva].
READ MORE: The potential routes to the Australian Open final for Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek
“Being a professional athlete I am getting closer to my retirement. Can you believe it? People retire at 30!”
And asked when she wants to retire, she replied: “I don’t know, it’s a tough question. I hope I’ll have a family, I love kids, I want to have kids and I don’t want to have my first kid at 35. I really want to have a kid and come back and see how hard you should work in life to get things.”
Aryna Sabalenka can turn to Naomi Osaka after WTA comeback
It seems that Sabalenka may soon have a very difficult decision to make, but even off-court distractions do not look like slowing her down at this moment in time.
Following her latest win, the Belarusian is on a 15-match winning streak on hard courts, boasting a 28-1 record since the start of the 2023 season.
And as per OptaAce, she has become the first player with 15 or more consecutive Australian Open women’s singles wins since Victoria Azarenka’s 18 from 2012 to 2014.
The WTA number one can, perhaps, get some advice from her fellow athlete Naomi Osaka, who returned from a 15-month break this time last year after the birth of her daughter.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka hasn’t been able to return to her very best, but that will, of course, take time.
Impressively, the former number one has risen back to 51st place in the WTA rankings, while she just reached the final of the ASB Classic.
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