Aryna Sabalenka has been the best ranked player in the world for the past two seasons, with only Iga Swiatek looking like she could stop the star’s reign.
Sabalenka impressed again in 2025 by winning the fourth Grand Slam of her glittering career at the US Open.
The world number one will play Nick Kyrgios in the Battle of the Sexes ahead of the 2026 season, where she is already confirmed to be playing the Brisbane International and the Australian Open.
Despite her dominance on the WTA Tour, Rennae Stubbs has suggested she won’t win Grand Slams in the double digits if she doesn’t change her mentality on court.
Rennae Stubbs calls for major Aryna Sabalenka change
On her podcast, Rennae Stubbs suggested that Sabalenka might not have the mentality to win Grand Slams in the double figures.
Stubbs expanded: I watched her play last night. She hits the ball so well when she wants to. But I think the personality that she has, where she gets a little combustible on the court really cost her a lot this year.
“Losing her s—- has always been something which has been difficult for her to maintain and control because she is such a demonstrative, emotional tennis player.
What does Aryna Sabalenka need to change in 2026 to win multiple Grand Slam titles?
“But if she wants to really win the big matches, like the Slams, and win 15 or 20 of them, if that is possible, she has four now.
“If she wants to win double digits then she has to calm down. She has to find the focus of not losing her s—-.
“Not yelling at her player box, which she admits is how she lets go of her tension and she breaks a racket.”
Stubbs compared Sabalenka to Serena Williams, who she said managed to nip her rage in the bud in the big matches.
“All that sort of stuff has to happen to her sometimes, but just like Serena, they have very similar personalities on the court.
- READ MORE: Aryna Sabalenka says if she thinks she could beat Serena Williams if she returns to tennis
“Serena learned to not lose it when it really mattered and that is what won her so many majors.Yes, she did lose her s—- from time to time and arguably she would have won 30 Grand Slams if she didn’t.
“But that is the one area I think if she were to look back and say how can I have a better 2026, I have to keep it together. It’s really hard for her to do but she has to if she wants to win multiple Slams every year.”
Aryna Sabalenka faced a major issue in 2025
While Stubbs criticism of Sabalenka might seem harsh, especially as she is the world number one, the star does desperately need to address one issue.
Sabalenka lost five finals in 2025, which is more than any other year of her career. The star lost at the WTA Finals, Roland Garros, the Stuttgart Open, Indian Wells, and the Australian Open.
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While you could argue a final is still impressive, that is a warning sign for the best ranked player in the world.
Those losses included Roland Garros, which saw Sabalenka lose her cool in her post-match interview. She was accused of disrespecting her opponent Coco Gauff, so maybe Stubbs does have a point about Sabalenka’s mentality.
