Aryna Sabalenka Reflects on Challenges After Loss

Tennis star Aryna Sabalenka has opened up about her struggles with mental health following the death of her ex-boyfriend, Konstantin Koltsov, in March, which she described as an 'unthinkable tragedy.' Despite initially believing that continuing to play tennis would help her cope, she later realized that this approach was detrimental to her mental and physical well-being. Sabalenka won the Cincinnati Open recently, which has re-established her position among the top players in the WTA rankings, but she admitted that she should have taken time to step back and recharge instead of pushing through her grief. She highlighted the emotional toll of juggling her personal loss with professional demands and expressed regret over not allowing herself to grieve properly. As she prepares for the upcoming US Open, Sabalenka also addressed the issue of gender pay disparity in tennis, calling for equal prize money for male and female players. Her journey reflects both resilience in the face of personal tragedy and the ongoing challenges athletes face in balancing mental health with competitive sports.