Aryna Sabalenka: “If You Heard My Self-Talk, You’d Think Something’s Wrong With Me”

Speaker 0:00 [dramatic music] There have been heartbreaking losses for Sabalenka this year ... through all of the emotions she felt, but she was composed. Richly deserved win. Aryna Sabalenka gets her Grand Slam title and a deserved U.S. Open trophy. [crowd cheering]

Speaker 0:24 [dramatic music] The number one health and wellness podcast.

Speaker 0:26 Jay Shetty.

Speaker 0:27 Jay Shetty.

Speaker 0:28 The one, the only, Jay Shetty.

Speaker 0:31 [laughs]

Jay Shetty 0:32 Aryna Sabalenka, congratulations. I am so excited to have you here. I've been looking forward to this for such a long time. I got to be at the game on Saturday. You were absolutely incredible. I can't believe we have you here 48 hours after you just won this incredible trophy, the U.S. Open. Women's final was unbelievable. Congrats, and thank you for doing this.

Speaker 0:55 Thank you for having me. I think I'm more excited than you. Uh, I've been watching your podcast and following you for f- I don't know for how long, so I'm probably more excited than you. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 1:06 That, that, that feels really good to me, the fact that you watch. It, it means the world to me, but honestly, I've, I've been really excited. I'm watching you live. There was nothing like it, the attitude, the personality-

Speaker 1:16 [laughs]

Jay Shetty 1:16 ... the amazing sportsmanship, like, just incredible play. It was fantastic to watch, truly.

Speaker 1:22 Yeah, it was, it was a great match, and I'm really, really happy that you enjoyed watching it, and, yeah, you had fun.

Jay Shetty 1:28 How does it feel when you're winning Grand Slam after Grand Slam? This is the second time you've won the U.S. Open in a row.

Speaker 1:34 Yeah.

Jay Shetty 1:34 Does it feel different from the first time? Does it feel the same? Like, what goes through your mind and heart?

Speaker 1:39 Like, every time you win the Grand Slam, every time is an incredible feeling, and every time it's just, you feel like it's the biggest thing that happened to you. And I feel like it's all depends on the situation in life and stuff because this season I struggle a lot, so I feel like this time it feels like, like it happened for the first time, you know? Like it's, like it's my first Grand Slam, so-

Jay Shetty 2:02 Wow

Speaker 2:02 ... it's, it's a big moment, and I feel, like, relieved after, after getting this, this beauty. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 2:09 [laughs] Absolutely. Thank you for bringing it here.

Speaker 2:10 Of course.

Jay Shetty 2:11 This is amazing.

Speaker 2:11 Of course.

Jay Shetty 2:11 I love having it here.

Speaker 2:12 What do you mean? [laughs]

Jay Shetty 2:12 This is the first trophy ever on On Purpose, so this is a, a special moment for us.

Speaker 2:16 Happy to be the first one. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 2:18 What, what were you, what were you struggling with this year? Like, when you say, like, "I was struggling this year, that's why it feels like a relief," what were you struggling with? Like, what were you going through?

Speaker 2:25 Yeah, I mean, I played, early in the season I played two Grand Slam finals in Australia and, um, in Paris, and I lost those two finals, and I... Like, they consider me favorite, so I kind of like, you know, f- I thought that I felt like, "Okay, it's coming my way." I was so excited, but then I would lose in the final, and I was sort of, like, really sad, and, like, it was really tough to go through those tough lessons, tough losses. And, and getting this, this trophy means a lot. It means that I learned a lesson. I became a better player. I have better control over my emotions, and I'm super happy that I was able to win this trophy.

Jay Shetty 3:03 Obviously you've just won, and we'll talk about that. I wanna know what do you do when you lose because losing is so much harder.

Speaker 3:09 It hurts.

Jay Shetty 3:10 It's so much more painful. It hurts so deeply.

Speaker 3:12 It hurts.

Jay Shetty 3:13 Like, what do you do? Do you analyze the game? Do you feel angry? Like, what, what are the emotions that you go through when you've lost a game, lost a final?

Speaker 3:21 A final. You know, I think it's all about, like, losing in the final, it hurts more because, you know, you're getting so close to your dream, and then it's, like, it feels like it's sort of, like, slips away, if I can say like that. So you, you're really depressed, and me personally, I wanna leave the place as soon as possible just so I, like, forget it, but then I need, like, some time to sit back, to analyze, to like, you know, to, to actually learn the lesson. So, um, it takes some time to process the losses.

Jay Shetty 3:54 How long before you can watch the game back when you've lost?

Speaker 3:58 I have to be honest, I, I never watched my, like-

Jay Shetty 4:01 Wow

Speaker 4:02 ... finals that I lost. I let my team do that and bring me on the plate, [laughs] "Okay, you, like, you did this, this, and this wrong." I know, like, mentally, emotionally what I did wrong and where I made the mistake in, like, the way I approached the, the final or what was my mindset. I know this part, but, like, the tennis part, I let my team figure it. Then they bring it. They tell me. I remember because I don't wanna watch it. I don't wanna see myself there losing, and of course, like, the finals that I lost earlier this season, I was, like, not behaving my best, and I hate seeing myself being not, not the kindest person. So I never watch my...

Jay Shetty 4:41 Yeah. That's really interesting. I, I also imagine when you're watching yourself back, it can kind of make you repeat that behavior sometimes as well. Like, it's like if you-

Speaker 4:50 Yeah

Jay Shetty 4:50 ... if you watch something closely enough, you almost, like, you keep pushing the wound. It's like you keep pressing on that-

Speaker 4:56 Yes, yes

Jay Shetty 4:56 ... scar, if that makes sense.

Speaker 4:58 Exactly. You just want to learn it, you know, like, make sure that it's never gonna happen again and forget it like, like a nightmare because, yeah, I feel like watching it back, it just trigger that, you know, that, that pain and something that you wanted to forget badly. So I feel like for me, for [laughs] for my mental health, it's better not to watch it.

Jay Shetty 5:19 Yeah.

Speaker 5:19 [laughs]

Jay Shetty 5:20 Who, who's the first person after you win or lose that you wanna talk to, that you wanna hug, that you wanna call? Like, who's is the first-

Speaker 5:26 I run to my team straight away. I run to my team because I know the, the work they, they, they put it in for this win. So I run there, and I, I hug my boy- boyfriend first, of course, then my team, and because I know how much of, of a work they've done to, uh, to make sure that I'm able to compete on such high level. And then, and then I message my family.

Jay Shetty 5:51 Nice. Yeah,

Jay Shetty 5:52 let me... Talk to me about, we were just talking about this offline. You were just saying, you know, this morning you were on the Today Show.

Speaker 5:57 Yeah.

Jay Shetty 5:57 You're like, you, you... I'm sure you have a million interviews to do today. It's been 48 hours since you've won.But, like, people forget that these tournaments are played in, like, these really tight timeframes. Like, this was two weeks, right? U.S. Open.

Speaker 6:10 Yeah, two weeks.

Jay Shetty 6:10 Like, it's really intense. You're playing all these games, multiple sets, really challenging. Like, the pressure's all compressed-

Speaker 6:18 Yes

Jay Shetty 6:18 ... into this short timeline. Like, talk to us about the preparation as a team, as an individual, for the intensity of the two weeks that the games are being played in.

Speaker 6:28 Well, yeah. I mean, we also have tournaments, uh, that leads to the, to the Grand Slam, and then you have, like, a week before the Grand Slam where you come to the place where you're gonna compete, and you practice, train, but also you have a lot of, um, like brands dinners, like meetings, some interviews as well. So people doesn't know that before the Grand Slam there is, like, a week, um, really busy week full of, uh, uh, meetings, dinners, um, and, and this, this kind of stuff, which is also not easy to handle. And, and also you're training during that period, and then the tournament starts and th- there is another pressure which you deal with. But the preparation, it's all about, you know, of course physically there is, like, tennis, there is gym, there's fitness, all of this stuff, but also mentally you're preparing yourself for, like, really tough two weeks, two weeks of, uh, great tennis, hopefully, because you never know, but also two weeks of fighting. Like, fighting for your dream. And, like, mentally you have this constant conversation in your head, like, you're gonna do that, you're capable of it, you're strong enough. So you're, like, really... I feel like if someone would hear, like, my conversation in my head throughout, like, this three weeks period, they would think that, okay, there's, this is something, like, something wrong with [laughs] this person, because it's constant conversation.

Jay Shetty 7:53 Talk to

Jay Shetty 7:54 us about that self-talk, because-

Speaker 7:55 Yeah

Jay Shetty 7:56 ... I think we forget-

Speaker 7:57 Yeah

Jay Shetty 7:58 ... that right now we're all so obsessed with the conversation online.

Speaker 8:01 Yeah. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 8:01 Like, we're looking at what Twitter's saying, X is saying. We're looking at what-

Speaker 8:04 Social medias

Jay Shetty 8:05 ... even on social media.

Speaker 8:05 Yeah.

Jay Shetty 8:05 And then you forget-

Speaker 8:07 Yeah

Jay Shetty 8:07 ... that the real conversation is happening inside the champion's head.

Speaker 8:10 Exactly, yeah.

Jay Shetty 8:11 Walk, walk us through what that conversation looks like. Like, what are the ups and downs? What are the shifts in that inner dialogue?

Speaker 8:17 Well, I mean, I think it's absolutely normal to feel nervous before big tournaments, and I, I think that every athlete feel nervous, every athlete doubt, uh, doubting his, um, I don't know, ability. Will he be able to do that again, or, like, how it's gonna go? Because you never know. Like, uh, sport is such a beautiful thing that you go out there and you don't know how you're gonna feel. Will the, will the game works? Like, will, will you feel great or bad or what, what you, you'll have to deal with because, you know, people look from the outside and they doesn't, doesn't know, for example, I don't feel my serve. Like, I don't... Like, I feel uncomfortable doing something on court, and I have to, like, deal with that. So before the tournament, I prepare myself that I am ready to handle anything. Like, I'm just talking that it's normal. I'm just trying to kind of like settle those, those, like, thoughts in my head, not by trying to, like, make them go away, because I feel like the moment when you try to make things go away, they actually, like, growing more, and it-

Jay Shetty 9:18 I agree

Speaker 9:18 ... it's, it's, like, more, and it's, uh, not easy to handle. So I'm just trying to tell myself it's okay to feel that, it's okay to think that, it's absolutely okay. Everyone thinks that. It's all about you going out there and fighting no matter what and, like, constantly having this conversation in your head throughout two weeks. It's tough.

Jay Shetty 9:37 Yeah.

Speaker 9:37 It's tough, but, but I kinda, like, lo- love it. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 9:43 Yeah. [laughs] Yeah, you've, you've learned to enjoy it.

Speaker 9:44 No, I'm just so grateful to have opportunity to experience of that, of, of all of that. Not everyone have this opportunity in life. So I'm just so grateful and I... Big opportunities is also, like, big, uh, uh, big responsibility, big pressure, but not everyone have that opportunity, so you gotta be g- grateful for that.

Jay Shetty 10:05 Yeah, that's beautiful. I- You reminded me of that famous quote that says, "What you resist persists."

Speaker 10:11 Yeah.

Jay Shetty 10:11 That idea that if you're trying to get rid of a thought or trying to get rid of a feeling-

Speaker 10:15 Exactly

Jay Shetty 10:15 ... it just expands-

Speaker 10:17 Exactly

Jay Shetty 10:17 ... and it takes up more space, and as soon as you accept it-

Speaker 10:20 Yeah

Jay Shetty 10:21 ... you're fine. When you reject it, it just gets bigger, it gets harder. But when you accept it-

Speaker 10:23 Yeah, rejection, that's not the key

Jay Shetty 10:25 Absolutely. When, when you accept that, of course I'm, of course it's natural to feel nervous, of course-

Speaker 10:30 Yeah

Jay Shetty 10:31 ... everyone's feeling uncomfortable, everyone's feeling-

Speaker 10:33 Exactly

Jay Shetty 10:33 ... stressed out, all of a sudden it kinda calms you.

Speaker 10:36 Yeah.

Jay Shetty 10:36 Whereas when you think that, "Oh, I'm the only one"-

Speaker 10:39 Yeah

Jay Shetty 10:39 ... "everyone else looks so calm and confident, but I'm stressed out," that's why we all get-

Speaker 10:43 I think that was my, like, my main mistake when I was just, like, starting playing tennis. I, I thought that I'm the only one who feel that, and I would, like, focus too much on that, so I would forget about, like, my opponent and I would, uh, struggle a lot at the beginning of my career. But then the moment when I realized, like, and I, that everyone experience that, and I start to see that on, in my opponent, and I was like, okay, then it's normal, then we're both in the same situation, we're both dealing with the same things, and it's all about who's gonna do that better.

Jay Shetty 11:14 Yeah.

Speaker 11:14 So it's actually, like, a trick, I feel like. Uh, like, mind trick. Like, just accept it.

Jay Shetty 11:19 Mm-hmm.

Jay Shetty 11:20 Yeah. What, what's the, what's the hardest thing about being a champion, about being number one, for you?

Speaker 11:27 I don't know. I don't know what's hard. I mean, I think there is nothing... Like, when you call someone, like, champion, when you hear the champion, it's like, how can I actually complain about anything?

Jay Shetty 11:39 [laughs]

Speaker 11:39 Like, if you, like, if you won, like, a trophy, like, there is nothing to complain about.

Jay Shetty 11:44 Yeah. Yeah. I loved when you came out after you've won-

Speaker 11:47 [laughs]

Jay Shetty 11:47 ... and you had the champagne bottle.

Speaker 11:49 [laughs]

Jay Shetty 11:49 You had the... I was like, I was like, "That sponsor must be really happy, Aryna," like [laughs]

Speaker 11:54 [laughs]

Jay Shetty 11:55 I was like, "That was, like, the best reaction ever."

Speaker 11:57 I should've came with the, with the tequila because it's sponsored by tequila. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 12:02 Oh, yeah. [laughs]

Speaker 12:02 Not with champagne. But, but you know, you gotta celebrate it, you gotta enjoy it because, you know, the hard work is done.

Jay Shetty 12:09 Yeah.

Speaker 12:09 NowIt's time to, you know, celebrate it.

Jay Shetty 12:13 Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 12:13 [laughs]

Jay Shetty 12:13 I was think- I was thinking about the moment, I don't know if you remember that-

Speaker 12:16 [laughs]

Jay Shetty 12:16 ... uh, tournament where Ronaldo hid the Coca-Cola and he put the water up. Did you ever see that interview?

Speaker 12:22 No.

Jay Shetty 12:22 So this is a press conference a few years ago, and-

Speaker 12:25 Was it-

Jay Shetty 12:25 It was Cristiano Ronaldo, football player

Speaker 12:27 Okay

Jay Shetty 12:27 And they'd put Coca-Cola in front of him, and he put it away and he said, "Drink water, don't drink Coca-Cola."

Speaker 12:33 That's funny.

Jay Shetty 12:33 And Coca-Cola's stock price went down that day.

Speaker 12:36 [laughs]

Jay Shetty 12:36 Like, it was crazy. So I was like, you just took Moët Champagne's, like, stock price must have, like, gone up and-

Speaker 12:41 Probably

Jay Shetty 12:42 ... gone through the roof. Yeah.

Speaker 12:42 We need to check it out.

Jay Shetty 12:43 Yeah, the ski goggles too. I was like, "It was amazing."

Speaker 12:45 It was so funny. I didn't know that I'm gonna look that funny.

Jay Shetty 12:48 [laughs] You look great.

Speaker 12:49 We just came straight from the locker room where they sprayed, like, I don't know how much of b- bottle of, of champagne on me. It was, uh, it was, it was a fun moment. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 12:56 Yeah.

Jay Shetty 12:57 I think celebrate... Do you know what? I, I was so happy to hear you say, "I wanna celebrate, I wanna have fun," because I think we forget, and sometimes you need to see the number one person in the world say, "I need to celebrate." Because I think this applies to everyone, wherever you are at your stage in life, we don't celebrate any milestones.

Speaker 13:16 Yes.

Jay Shetty 13:17 And then when you don't see the people at the top celebrate, you kinda think, "Oh, well, what, what permission do I have to celebrate?"

Speaker 13:22 [laughs]

Jay Shetty 13:22 So I feel like you gave everyone permission to say, "You know what? It's okay." What... Go-

Speaker 13:26 You have to. Exactly, you have to celebrate. Absolutely. Especially when you, in my case, like, uh, losing the finals, losing some tou- some tough matches, dealing, dealing with some struggles, you know, when you finally able to win something big for you, I think it's important to celebrate that moment because you never know when this moment gonna, gonna happen again, so you, you, you have to celebrate. Doesn't matter in which industry in life you are, uh, whatever achievement you achieve, like, you have to go and, and, and just have a little moment for yourself.

Jay Shetty 13:58 Yeah. Do you, do you take a moment to yourself as well to celebrate on your own? Like, what does that look like? What does that personal celebration look like?

Speaker 14:05 I usually celebrate with my team, with the people around me because, you know, it's not like it was done only by me, you know? I, I've done it with the help of people, so I feel like it's, it's not only my trophy, it's our trophy. But my celebration is, like, one again, in my head. I just tell myself, "Okay, I'm proud."

Jay Shetty 14:24 Yeah.

Speaker 14:24 "I'm proud to, to be able to handle, uh, have this trophy."

Jay Shetty 14:28 Yeah. I think it's important to have that inner celebration as well-

Speaker 14:33 Yeah

Jay Shetty 14:33 ... because I love that you just said that, "I sit down and go, 'I'm proud to have this trophy.'"

Speaker 14:37 Yeah. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 14:37 Like, I feel like we're constantly looking for validation outside, and when you win something like this, of course the whole world that loves tennis and loves you is validating you, which is a beautiful feeling.

Speaker 14:47 Of course.

Jay Shetty 14:48 But I love that you said that you actually sit there and say, "I'm proud of this trophy for myself," because I feel like that inner validation is something no one can take away from you and something that stays with you long after.

Speaker 14:58 Yeah, because n- like, only I know, like, uh, what I had to go through, how tough it was, and, uh, how it all started and, you know, like, this is important to, you know, appreciate it.

Jay Shetty 15:11 Yeah. It's beautiful.

Speaker 15:12 This is happen- hap- happening for a reason. I need to change something, you know? And, and I think you have to go through these tough challenges to see, to see why, why it happened to you. It's not only about sport. In everything in life. Confidence, it's, it's, it's, uh, it's a process, you know? You're building this confidence, like, step by step, like, by waking up the, the, like, the early morning, by sh- showing up, uh, somewhere you didn't want to, you know? Like, and, like, slowly building your confidence. It's all about, like, these little, little steps. I think love is something that you cannot really explain, right? You just, you just feel complete with the person, right? You just feel comfortable. You, you're not doubting anything, you're having fun. You love everything about the person good and... Because everyone have good and bad parts, right? So you love everything, and I think that's something that gives you that feeling that, I don't know, that, like, that warm in your heart.

Jay Shetty 16:14 You want your master's degree. You know you can earn it, but life gets busy. The packed schedule, the late nights, and then there's the unexpected. American Public University was built for all of it. With monthly starts and no set login times, APU's 40-plus flexible online master's programs are designed to move at the speed of life. Start your master's journey today at apu.apus.edu. You want it? Come get it at APU. You bring the fire, we'll fuel the journey. Get started today at apu.apus.edu. I wanna go back, Aryna, 'cause I feel like I was watching a lot of your interviews when I was preparing for this, and I know we've been messaging for a while on Instagram too.

Speaker 17:04 Yeah. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 17:04 And so I was thinking about it, I was like, I actually don't think a lot of people know your journey and know your story that deeply. I think people know a little bit here and there, but on On Purpose, that's what we like to do. We love to know how people found their purpose-

Speaker 17:16 The whole story

Jay Shetty 17:16 ... became, yeah, became who they were. And so I wanted to ask you, like, what is a childhood memory that you have or a memory that you can recall that you feel defines who you are today, that has impacted the person that you are today?

Speaker 17:31 You know, I have so many great memories, but I remember watching my dad being really, like, funny guy, the guy who would just, you know, make everyone feel happy and smile. And I would, I remember I would just look at him and think, "Oh my God, I wanna become this kind of person," being like, uh, just, like, a positive person, like, the person who brings, like, positive vibes everywhere she goes. So I think that's why I'm, like, quite, I have this quite funny personality.

Jay Shetty 17:59 [laughs]

Speaker 18:00 [laughs]

Jay Shetty 18:00 Is that where that playfulness comes from?

Speaker 18:02 Uh, yeah.

Jay Shetty 18:03 Watching your dad?

Speaker 18:04 Yeah, yeah.

Jay Shetty 18:04 Yeah.

Speaker 18:05 And another story, but, but this story, it's not like I remember Dad, but it, I think it's perfectly shows my personality. When I was a kid and someone came to me because I was... grunting while hitting the ball, and someone came to me calling me Sharapova, and I looked at the person saying like, "No, I'm future Sabalenka."

Jay Shetty 18:23 [laughs]

Speaker 18:23 You know? I was a kid. I was, like, what? Nine or, or 10. And saying that, I was just like... When, when my, my mom told me the story, I kinda like was proud of myself. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 18:35 Yeah. [laughs] I love it, and, and to me it's all your, even when I was watching you on Saturday, to me it's all your microexpressions.

Speaker 18:41 Yeah. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 18:41 Like, you just have this face that can just, like, make so many-

Speaker 18:44 [laughs]

Jay Shetty 18:45 ... different angles and faces, and I'm, like, just watching you just... I was telling you about a moment earlier as well.

Speaker 18:49 Yeah, yeah.

Jay Shetty 18:49 Like, Amanda played an amazing shot the other day.

Speaker 18:52 [laughs]

Jay Shetty 18:53 And, and, and you just, like, turned around and you were, like, clapping it on the side, and I was like, this is-

Speaker 18:56 It was a great shot

Jay Shetty 18:57 ... it was a great shot. It was amazing.

Speaker 18:59 Yeah. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 18:59 It was just, it's all these micro things, but you're saying your dad inspired all of this, like, that-

Speaker 19:03 Yeah, my personality, I think 100% comes from my dad.

Jay Shetty 19:07 Yeah, and he was also the one who introduced you to tennis, as I understand.

Speaker 19:09 Yeah,

Speaker 19:10 yeah, yeah.

Jay Shetty 19:10 Walk me through that. How did he discover tennis? How did he introduce it to you?

Speaker 19:14 It's actually by, not like accident, but he was just, like, trying to find some activity for me because I was very active kid, and he wanted me to be busy and to do stuff. And he was trying to find a sport for me, and he was l- just, like, passing by the tennis court and he was like, "Well, why not just try it?"

Jay Shetty 19:32 Wow.

Speaker 19:32 So I tried it and I loved it, and that's how it started.

Jay Shetty 19:35 That's crazy. I... Was, was he good at tennis? Did he play-

Speaker 19:38 No, no, no. He used to play ice hockey, but then he had a bike crash, so, uh-

Jay Shetty 19:43 Oh

Speaker 19:43 ... he was afraid to come back in sport.

Jay Shetty 19:45 Oh, wow.

Speaker 19:45 So, yeah.

Jay Shetty 19:46 It was a quite bad injury that he-

Speaker 19:47 It was a very bad injury. He barely survived when he was 18 or 19.

Jay Shetty 19:51 Oh, gosh.

Speaker 19:52 So, and since then he didn't want to come back to sport because he was afraid that it was, it, it will affect his health.

Jay Shetty 19:58 Did he do anything to help you feel confident about tennis, or what was that relationship like? Because I heard in another interview you said, you said it was quite funny that you didn't actually think you got good at tennis until you were, like, 16, 17 years old.

Speaker 20:11 Yeah.

Jay Shetty 20:11 And so that's a long time. If you started playing tennis quite early and you only felt really good at 16, 17, what was happening between that age when you started playing and 16, 17?

Speaker 20:20 No, but I was, I was pretty good. I was winning these local tournaments all the time. I was pretty good, and my dad would always just say, "Just, as long as you just go out there and you fight and you give your, your best, you're good." He didn't care, like, if I win or lose, so, so he was, like, a really great supporter. Uh, but I realized at 16, 17 that I can be maybe good, like, internationally. You know, like, going, going for those, uh, back then it was, like, 10,000 event, like a woman sport, you know, like WTA. It started, like... Actually, I think it was, like, ITF or something, like, because I started from, like, 10,000, 25, 50, 100, so, like, slowly made my way to WTA tennis. So yeah, back then I s- I thought, like, maybe, maybe I can g- can be good, when you compare yourself to, like, uh, other athletes. So, so that's why probably,

Speaker 21:08 yeah.

Jay Shetty 21:08 Who did you grow up watching? Who are the people that you admired? 'Cause you already said, you were like, "No, I'm gonna be future Sabalenka," but.

Speaker 21:14 You know, it's so funny because I think back then it wasn't that much of a social media, so I didn't have, like, a, like an iPhone, you know, to go to Instagram and, and, and watch other athletes. B- and I was just, like, I was training the whole... I was going to school, I was training, and then I was just, like, having fun with my friends outside. So I w- I was never, like, watching TV or, or any internet much, so I didn't really look up to someone, you know? Like, of course I, I've seen, like, Serena dominating, like, uh, there and there, so, and I, I was, like, thinking, like, I wish I could become, uh, like, like her one day, you know? So but no, I wasn't, like, really look, looking up to someone, and, like, this question, question makes me feel really terrible as a person. Like, I feel like everyone have their, like, idol, someone they look up to, and I, I never have someone. But I think the answer is just, like, because we didn't have the social media. We didn't have, like, something that you just grow up and you look and, oh, okay, and you see this-

Jay Shetty 22:14 Totally

Speaker 22:14 ... this life.

Jay Shetty 22:15 No, I, I mean, I di- I, I didn't, I didn't wanna make you feel bad by asking you. I was just, yeah.

Speaker 22:19 No, no, you didn't make me bad. I'm just saying, like-

Jay Shetty 22:20 No, and, like, I don't... No, and I, I almost think there's something beautiful about it because I think sometimes, sometimes watching people can inspire us, but sometimes not having that can actually help you find yourself.

Speaker 22:31 Yeah.

Jay Shetty 22:31 Like, not having acc- Even, I mean, when I was growing up, I'm, I'm 10 years older than you, but when I was growing up, I was reading books about people because I couldn't follow them on social media either.

Speaker 22:42 Mm.

Jay Shetty 22:42 So I read David Beckham's autobiography when I was, like, 16, 17 years old, and then I read Steve Jobs' biography much later.

Speaker 22:48 Yeah.

Jay Shetty 22:49 And so I was reading about people that I was fascinated by at a young age, but I didn't get to watch clips of them or-

Speaker 22:54 Yeah

Jay Shetty 22:54 ... or whatever else it may be. And I think there's something beautiful about that, because then you get to define who you are, and sometimes you can get caught comparing yourself to people. I think social media has made it so hard for young athletes, or young anyone.

Speaker 23:08 Yeah, yeah.

Jay Shetty 23:08 You're looking at everyone going, "Oh, I wish I was more like that. I wish I looked like that. I wish I had that game."

Speaker 23:13 Yes.

Jay Shetty 23:13 You know? And so-

Speaker 23:14 It's tough

Jay Shetty 23:14 ... it's kinda nice to not have that, actually, sometimes because you're free of the-

Speaker 23:17 It's, it's, it's a good and a bad thing at the same time, right? Like, you, you see more stuff, you learn more, but at the same time you can compare yourself to people and, and then feel bad about yourself, uh, for some reason. So it's like, it can bring, like, a really strong insecureness in you. So I don't know. I think it's important to find something that you love, you truly love, not, like, because you see, like, a social media post and you think, "Oh, I wanna, I wanna live that life." But do you really? You know, you have to find some- something that you love, and I think if you do what you love and your passion and you dedicate your life to that and you do everything you can to become successful in any area, I think that's, that's the, the way to go, you know?

Jay Shetty 23:56 Well said. Yeah, absolutely. I feel like it's so... Because winning the trophy is 1% of your life.

Speaker 24:04 Yes.

Jay Shetty 24:04 The other 99% is what we don't see. We're just seeing the two weeks of the tournaments or whatever it may be.

Speaker 24:09 But it's the whole life, you know?

Jay Shetty 24:10 It's the waking up, it's the-

Speaker 24:11 Yeah.

Jay Shetty 24:12 Walk me through your morning routine. Like, what does your routine look like? How do you set yourself up?

Speaker 24:17 During the tournament?

Jay Shetty 24:18 Do me a game day and a non-game day.

Speaker 24:20 Well, the game day depends on the match, once again, but I like to sleep in.

Jay Shetty 24:25 [laughs]

Speaker 24:25 I need to have a good recovery.Uh, but then I take it easy if it's, like, a evening match. I take it easy. I do, like, some, um, mobility in the gym, like, to wake me up. I mean, of course, breakfast before lunch. Then I go inside. Uh, I do my warmup again. I do tennis hit. And, and then there's a match game. And when it's a not match day, then it's, like, even a longer sleep [laughs] Later wake up, and, um, easy start, little bit of a hit, and then it's a treatment, recovery process, and then it's a dinner. I love to go out for dinners. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 25:01 Nice. Did I read somewhere that you meditate as well, or have tried before? Do you practice any sort of meditation or work with a sports psychologist as well?

Speaker 25:08 I work with a sports psychologist for, um, four or five years.

Jay Shetty 25:12 Wow.

Speaker 25:13 We did, uh, some sort of meditation. Uh, uh, we did... Yeah, we did a lot of, uh, things, um, at the beginning of my career. Uh, but then, you know, what I found, that I was relying on her so much. She was a woman. I, I was relying on her so much, so I, I was expe- expecting her to fix my problems, like my emotions. So... And I, and I was, like, repeating the same mistake over and over again, and I was, like, getting upset about that. So at some point I decided, "Okay, I have to take responsibility, uh, over my actions," and I stopped working with psychologist, and that was the moment when I start, like, learning about myself, when I actually, um, understood myself better, and I star- I, I start to control my emotions much better, and I felt, like, more balanced when I, like, took that responsibility.

Jay Shetty 26:08 Yeah.

Speaker 26:08 So it was, uh... I think for me personally, it was a, it was a great move. But you never know. Like, maybe one day I'm gonna come back to, uh, get back to, um, psychology, meditation, and, and all of that stuff.

Jay Shetty 26:21 I think that's the right process, though, with anything. I feel like it's learn-

Speaker 26:24 Learn, yeah

Jay Shetty 26:24 ... and then you have to go lead yourself, and it's learn and then lead yourself. And I think the challenge is if you constantly remain a student, then you're always dependent, and I think anything we become dependent on-

Speaker 26:34 Yeah

Jay Shetty 26:35 ... controls us, and then we're subject to how good we feel that day. But when you learn something and then you go and try it, and you practice it and you apply it, then you get to see whether you actually internalized it.

Speaker 26:46 True.

Jay Shetty 26:46 And so I think that is a good process. I feel like for anyone who's practicing any sort of coaching, therapy, psychology, it's great to be able to learn and then go test all the stuff in the real world and, and then see where it goes back, rather than keep it there forever, because then you're almost... Someone's holding your hand-

Speaker 27:03 Yeah

Jay Shetty 27:03 ... the whole time, and then-

Speaker 27:04 Yeah

Jay Shetty 27:04 ... you just keep holding tighter and tighter and tighter.

Speaker 27:06 Yeah. It's good to, uh, like, you know, go back and forth, like, work with psychologist but then go out there and, and try to figure it by, by your- by yourself, and then the moment you feel like you need to talk to someone and you need to, uh, find some, yeah, some, some answers. So yeah, it's, it's a... It's always a learning process, right? Like, as long as it good for you, it's great.

Jay Shetty 27:29 Yeah. How would the people that know you, beyond tennis, personally, deeply, intimately, how would they describe you? What would they say about you?

Speaker 27:37 Oh, I don't like to talk about myself, but I feel like they would, they would say that I'm very kind, funny of course-

Jay Shetty 27:45 [laughs]

Speaker 27:46 ... and very generous, and I think... I mean, yeah, I think that's, that's how they would describe me. I mean, that's what I hope they're gonna describe me. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 27:52 That's what, that's what... Yeah, we'll have to check with her.

Speaker 27:54 Maybe they're gonna, maybe they're gonna just say, "Okay, you know what? She's, she's crazy. Like, you better just stay away." [laughs] Who knows? But I... That's, that's my hopes. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 28:01 Yeah. Yeah. Funny, kind, and generous is a good, is a good, uh, good three. I like those.

Speaker 28:06 [laughs]

Jay Shetty 28:06 We're gonna check afterwards.

Speaker 28:07 Maybe that's just how I see myself, but reality's different. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 28:10 We'll, we'll check afterwards.

Speaker 28:11 Yeah, let's just ask them. Yeah. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 28:13 I'll have to ask, have to ask a few people. Have to ask

Jay Shetty 28:15 a few people. How much does your life off the court, in your personal life, impact your life on the court?

Speaker 28:21 Well, I think anyway everything, it's, you know, kind of like works together, so, um... But I think it's all about, like, balancing your off the court and on the court life, 'cause I feel like on the court I'm, like, really aggressive. I'm so focused. I'm, like, I'm just chasing my dreams. So I feel like people who doesn't know me, they can, they can say that I'm super crazy person and super aggressive on, on the court, but it's not, uh, who I am. I feel like off the court I'm, I'm, I'm more fun and I love to have fun, and, you know, you have to balance. You have to, like, put the hard work in, but also you have to go and, and, and enjoy and do things that brings you, brings you joy, because then when you feel, feel balanced and feel like, uh, you're enjoying your life, then you, you're, you're able to go there and to, you know, bring everything you have and to fight and to, to be focused.

Jay Shetty 29:14 Yeah. I feel, I feel tennis has done

Jay Shetty 29:16 so much, hopefully, to start leveling the playing field with men and women. Have you ever felt that divide personally while playing? Like, do you feel the pressure that everyone in the media puts on the sports of, like, you know, men and women are not equal, there's this challenge? Like, have you felt that, or do you feel you... that doesn't really cross your mind? How do you process that?

Speaker 29:36 I'm trying not to focus on that because I just try to represent women's sport the best way possible, and of course we're all fighting for equal prize money and everything. But also at the end of the day, it's all about who brings the, who brings the show, who brings people into the sport. But I think, like, now, uh, the prize money's equal, everything is, uh, getting closer and closer between man and woman, so I, of course I love it, and that's what woman, um, athletes are fighting for. Thank you Billie Jean King for, you know, fighting for us. I agree that we deserve to be paid the same. Of course, like, the level is different just because of the physical abilities, but the, the, the work that we put in, it's, it's equal to the work that they put in. Of course the level can be different, but it just, uh... It's life. That's, that's-

Jay Shetty 30:27 Yeah, yeah

Speaker 30:27 ... men, men meant to be, uh, stronger than women.So-

Jay Shetty 30:31 Yeah, but it's interesting to hear that you don't think about it, because I think that's... 'Cause I guess you've just gotta focus on playing the game.

Speaker 30:38 Yeah, you cannot, uh, you know, focus on many things. You just gotta focus on yourself and bring the best, uh, best of you. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 30:47 Yeah.

Speaker 30:47 And, uh, and of course, uh, um, try to fight for, uh, having, like, equal prize money to be, like, closer to what men's are, um, earning and, and, and that stuff. And I think, like, actually lately, like women's tennis, especially tennis, women tennis, um, is more fun to watch, like more people coming-

Jay Shetty 31:10 Absolutely

Speaker 31:10 ... like attending, people speak more about that. Maybe it's like fashion related, because it's such a fashionable sport right now. Um, but I feel like we are getting really close to men.

Jay Shetty 31:20 Yeah, yeah. I, I think it's been brilliant. I think the sport's done a great job at trying to-

Speaker 31:24 Yeah

Jay Shetty 31:25 ... move in the right direction-

Speaker 31:25 Push it. Push it. Yeah

Jay Shetty 31:25 ... for a long time. And Billie Jean King, as you said-

Speaker 31:27 Yeah

Jay Shetty 31:27 ... has been such a reason for that. It's been amazing.

Speaker 31:29 Yeah.

Jay Shetty 31:29 So it's incredible. Talk to us about the fashion, because-

Speaker 31:32 [laughs]

Jay Shetty 31:32 ... your... Uh, well, as soon as you put your, like, outfit on that day, and you put the silver jacket on, and like-

Speaker 31:37 [laughs]

Jay Shetty 31:37 ... I was like, Aryna's, like, going for it. Like, how much, how much fun do you get to have with all of that?

Speaker 31:42 I love it. You know, I love fashion. I love, uh, you know, I love, uh, experimenting with, uh, with, uh, with my looks and stuff. And for me it's important, you know, to look good on court, uh, um, to feel good about myself. So I love that. I think it's all about, you know, having fun with it and, uh, bringing fashion to tennis. Uh, I think it's also gonna help to explore our sport more. So I'm enjoying this.

Jay Shetty 32:07 Yeah, yeah. You see it in sports, like I feel like basketball especially in America.

Speaker 32:10 Yeah.

Jay Shetty 32:10 Like all the basketball players are very fashionable. Like, it, it kinda creates... It brings sports and culture together quite a lot.

Speaker 32:16 Yes.

Jay Shetty 32:17 How do you find your inspiration for your looks? Like, is it just something you like the look of? Like, how do you kind of go about picking colors, silhouettes, everything else?

Speaker 32:25 Well, I started to work with, uh, Karla Welch, the, um, the stylist. Uh, she's the best, and she teached me a lot about, you know, how to mix stuff together, which colors, uh, works better, better for me. Uh, so she teached me a lot, and I follow a lot of, like, fashion influencers just to, like, see how they dressed up, and sometimes I find the inspiration. I order a lot of stuff, and, you know, I'm, I'm like, I cannot stop shopping.

Jay Shetty 32:52 Yeah.

Speaker 32:52 That's my, that's my weakness.

Jay Shetty 32:53 Is it? [laughs]

Speaker 32:54 Yes.

Jay Shetty 32:55 Yeah, there was a clip that I saw where it's like, as soon as after the game, the first thing that went on was the, uh-

Speaker 32:59 Yes

Jay Shetty 32:59 ... AP. It went on straight after the game. [laughs]

Speaker 33:02 You know. Gotta take care of, uh, the fashion stuff-

Jay Shetty 33:05 Yeah

Speaker 33:06 ... of the game. [laughs] Fashion part of the game.

Jay Shetty 33:08 I love it. Well, you're, well, you're crushing it. You're crushing it. When

Jay Shetty 33:11 I-

Speaker 33:11 Thank you. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 33:11 One of the things that I love talking to about with successful people, champions who, who've been through it, is, like, defining moments in their life. You know, I feel like defining moments in every human's life are just... It either propels you forward, or it can, you know, slow you down or break you down. And for you, I feel like one of the biggest ones was losing your father. Like, that is, for anyone, losing a parent is such a huge part of their journey. For you, it's critical to your journey, because it's the person who gave you what you love.

Speaker 33:40 Yeah.

Jay Shetty 33:40 Walk us through that moment in time.

Speaker 33:43 Well, I hope I'm not gonna start crying right now, but it was, it was, uh, unexpectable. It just happened like this. Um, and, uh, it was, it was a tough moment, because I was so close to him. The reason is because we have similar personalities, and we, um, understood each other much better. He knew what to tell me when I was, like, struggling on court, you know? Um, I would just call him, and he would just say a couple things, and I would be like, "Oh, that makes sense." So losing him was, uh, was a, was a tough moment. Um, but, you know, instead of, like, really going depressed, I just decided to take it as, you know, like he's, like, here with me. He's in my, in my heart, in my memory. Um, he raised me, I feel like, the best way possible. Thanks, thanks to him for, you know, like I feel like I'm the champion right now because of, because of him, and, uh, I know that he's here with me. He, you know, he support me. He takes care of me. He protects me. And, um, yeah, I took it as, as a motivation to put the family name in the history, and thanks to him.

Jay Shetty 34:59 Yeah. How, how did you grieve at the time? Like, what was useful to you? Because I feel losing someone's always hard, and there's-

Speaker 35:05 Yeah

Jay Shetty 35:05 ... no perfect way to grieve, but what, what worked for you? What, what did you have to do in order to process that?

Speaker 35:10 Well, I had to stay really strong, because, yeah, my mom was... She, it was tough for her to handle. She was a young woman. To lose her husband that she loved, it was tough. So I had to stay really strong and not really show my emotions, but I was crying a lot back then when no one's, uh, saw me. But the best way for me was to go on court and practice and train. It was the only time when I wouldn't think. You know, like the beginning of the practice till the end, I was just focusing on, like, tennis, like hitting those, like, balls, repetition after repetition. And then the moment the practice would stop, I would, like, constantly thinking, like remembering, like, something from the past, start crying harder. Um, that was the best way for me to go through it, is like go out and, and practice, and practice, and practice.

Jay Shetty 36:00 Yeah. I feel like... Yeah, I feel like you just break down straight after, because it... I mean, I'm surprised you could even focus during the practice. That's impressive, because-

Speaker 36:08 There was... Yeah. I don't know how, actually. I just figured that I went on, on court, start practicing. I realized that, okay, this is the moment when I'm not thinking about that, and I was, I was training a lot. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 36:20 Yeah, yeah, yeah. You were trying to, like, channel it all into-

Speaker 36:23 Yeah. Like, just let it, like, go. Let it go, because it's nothing you can do about. You know, I feel like in life there is, like, birth, love, and death, something that you have zero control on. So I was like-It was his journey. I was grateful that I was able to spend 21 years with, with him. And yeah, I know that he's, he's protecting me.

Jay Shetty 36:47 Mm. That's so beautiful. Thank you for sharing that.

Speaker 36:50 Thank you.

Jay Shetty 36:50 It's so beautiful to hear about... My, my wife recently lost her grandmother, and I always say to people that-

Speaker 36:55 Oh, I'm so sorry

Jay Shetty 36:56 ... uh-

Speaker 36:57 It's tough

Jay Shetty 36:57 ... my, like, my wife's... I don't even come close. My wife's favorite person in the world is her grandmother, and her grandmother was 91. She lived an amazing life, but losing someone that close to you, that's raised you, that you have all these memories with, it's never easy. And, you know, my wife was by her bedside for four months every day before she passed away, like sleeping in hospital and together with her, and just... You know, it was, it was beautiful for me to watch, just that love that they shared.

Speaker 37:22 That connection.

Jay Shetty 37:23 Yeah, that connection and that level of love and that level of... And I love what you just said now about how birth, love, and death are the only things that are guaranteed, and it's... How, how do you,

Jay Shetty 37:35 how do you think about love? Like, w- what's your views on love? I'm intrigued, seeing as you brought those three important things.

Speaker 37:41 [laughs] I think love is something that you cannot really explain, right? You just, you just feel complete with the person, right? You just feel comfortable. You, you're not doubting anything. You're having fun. You love everything about the person good and... Because everyone have good and bad parts, right? So you love everything. And I think that's something that gives you that feeling that, I don't know, that, like, that warm in your heart.

Jay Shetty 38:11 Yeah, it's a feeling.

Speaker 38:12 How would you describe?

Jay Shetty 38:14 [sighs]

Speaker 38:14 You know? Right?

Jay Shetty 38:15 It's-

Speaker 38:15 Like, how, how can...

Jay Shetty 38:16 Yeah.

Speaker 38:17 Yeah.

Jay Shetty 38:18 Love to me is when someone accepts you for who you are and you accept them for who they are.

Speaker 38:26 And not changing you, right.

Jay Shetty 38:27 And you're not trying to change them.

Speaker 38:28 Exactly.

Jay Shetty 38:28 I feel like the biggest mistake-

Speaker 38:29 Agree

Jay Shetty 38:30 ... is when you either want someone to never change or you want someone to change today. Because chances are, if you spend long enough with someone, they will change, and you will change. And if I wanna change you, that means I never really loved you in the first place. And so-

Speaker 38:46 It's very-

Jay Shetty 38:47 ... it's, when I'm willing to accept-

Speaker 38:48 ... well said

Jay Shetty 38:48 ... yeah, when I'm willing to accept and be with you and sit with you and understand you.

Speaker 38:52 Yeah.

Jay Shetty 38:52 I'm, I'm trying to be more curious than I am judgmental-

Speaker 38:56 Exactly

Jay Shetty 38:56 ... because I'm trying to understand why you are the way you are and-

Speaker 38:59 I love that

Jay Shetty 39:00 ... what made you this way and...

Speaker 39:01 I totally agree.

Jay Shetty 39:02 Yeah, 'cause it's... 'Cause I feel like it's, it's so easy in any relationship. This isn't just romantic.

Speaker 39:07 Mm.

Jay Shetty 39:07 I think it applies to parents, family, sisters, siblings, brothers, everyone. It's like you don't know why someone is the way they are.

Speaker 39:15 You don't know what they been through, right?

Jay Shetty 39:17 Yeah.

Speaker 39:18 What made them the way they are. And when you understand, understand that about, like you said, family, friends, uh, just people, right?

Jay Shetty 39:26 Yeah.

Speaker 39:27 Makes you, yeah, just feel the person.

Jay Shetty 39:31 Yeah. When did you start to feel successful and feel like you were a champion? Did you ever... Do you feel that way, or is there...

Speaker 39:39 I don't know. I, I never, I never think about that. I think for me, success is the, the discipline that you put in.

Jay Shetty 39:48 Mm.

Speaker 39:49 I think this is success, like, being able to be there every morning, every practice, doesn't matter how you feel, doesn't matter if you want it or you, you don't want to be there, you know? There, because there is days when you just don't wanna go and work or practice and do your job, right? And if you're still there, this is success. This is mean that you, you, you love what you do and you want to be successful.

Jay Shetty 40:14 That's a great definition of success. I love that.

Speaker 40:17 [laughs]

Jay Shetty 40:17 That's such a great answer. Success is actually showing up-

Speaker 40:21 Yeah

Jay Shetty 40:21 ... even when you don't want to.

Speaker 40:22 Yeah.

Jay Shetty 40:22 When you don't feel like it.

Speaker 40:24 Yeah.

Jay Shetty 40:24 That's really what it is.

Speaker 40:25 I think that's why I'm able to, you know, hold these trophies because I was there, like, no matter what since, like, a very young age. You know, I remember going to practice not feeling well, but I don't know, someone was just dr- something was just driving me. Like, I was just going there. I loved it, and that's why I say that people have to find something they love because when you love something, what's, like, what you do, that's what pushes you, like, to go, to do, to, to do better every day, like, and to improve, to... That's important.

Jay Shetty 40:59 I love what you're

Jay Shetty 41:00 saying, and I'm, I'm thinking about some of the things I think my audience struggles with sometimes. Let's say you find... Some people struggle to find something they love. Do you think that's because we have the wrong view of it? Like, I think some people think if you love something, you'll always like it.

Speaker 41:16 Mm-hmm.

Jay Shetty 41:16 But what you're saying is you could love something, and there'll still be days where you don't like it, which I think is a really important point.

Speaker 41:22 Yeah.

Jay Shetty 41:22 Does that make sense? Like-

Speaker 41:23 I feel like so many people give up on things because they feel like, "Okay, I, I don't wanna go there." It means that, "Okay, I'm done." And I think, um, this is actually the moment where you can make the, like, breakthrough, you know?

Jay Shetty 41:35 Mm.

Speaker 41:35 Because you, yeah, like you said, you're absolutely right. You can love something, but at the same time you can experience those days when you just don't wanna do that, and it's normal.

Jay Shetty 41:45 Yeah.

Speaker 41:45 It's normal. It just, it's, it's a routine. So it's important to, if you love something at first and you, you felt happy, and it, like, all of the sudden you're like, "Okay, I'm, I don't wanna go there," it's, it's, doesn't mean that you have to change something.

Jay Shetty 42:03 Yeah.

Speaker 42:03 You know, you have to change your job. You just have to go through this period. It's, it's like in every relationship. It's not perfect all the time. You have to, you know, go through something.

Jay Shetty 42:12 Did you ever think about giving up? Like, was there ever a time in your life where you were like, "I think this is it"?

Speaker 42:17 Yeah, there was a moment in my career. When was that? Three years ago? When I was double faulting, I couldn't, like, serve. I don't know what happened with me. Like, I couldn't serve. Just something happened, and it wouldn't work. And I was, I was still playing. I was... I actually ended up here, uh, in top 10 somehow without the serve.But it was, like, really... I was really close to just quit because I was like, "I don't know how to fix it." Like, we tried everything, like psychology. Um, we tried everything, like, like, like going, like, through repetitions, like practicing, like, uh, different tr- like, everything. We tried everything and we couldn't fix it, and I was like, "Okay, I'm about to quit." Uh, but then we, yeah, we hired a biomechanic guy, and he helped to understand li- some details and, and, you know? Like, so that's what I'm saying. Like, it was the moment for me to, like, you know, to stay strong, to go through it, to nev- like, never give up [laughs] , you know?

Jay Shetty 43:19 Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 43:19 Like how we say. [laughs] And I didn't quit, and after that, I was able to win my first Grand Slam, and that moment was crazy. Crazy, crazy, crazy emotional.

Jay Shetty 43:30 I feel like that's always the case, where it's like you love something-

Speaker 43:33 Yeah

Jay Shetty 43:33 ... something about it's not working, you're struggling, you're not getting it right.

Speaker 43:37 Yeah.

Jay Shetty 43:38 And that's the point where you're required to be a bit more dedicated. Like, it's like that's where the unlock is, right?

Speaker 43:43 Yes. I feel like, uh, universe, God, or you, you call however you want it, send those challenges because you can handle it, and for a reason, you know? Like, everything happens for a reason, and that what actually kept me in sport because I was like, "Okay, this has happened, hap- happening for a reason. I need to change something," you know? And, and I think you have to go through these tough challenges to see, to see why, why it happened to you. It's not only about sport. In everything in life, you know?

Jay Shetty 44:16 Yeah. And I feel like those are the moments that give you confidence and courage. Now, when you overcome something, which ev- And I think people forget how much they've overcome.

Speaker 44:24 Yeah.

Jay Shetty 44:24 Like, I love that you just said, like, "I've been just showing up since I was a little kid."

Speaker 44:30 Yeah.

Jay Shetty 44:30 Like, you know, you've been showing up for so many years, and I think people think confidence is how you show up today or winning a trophy or... It's like, no, no, no. Like, think about it. And everyone has showed up in their life, like the people that are going to work, for their kids-

Speaker 44:44 Yeah

Jay Shetty 44:44 ... for their partner. Like, people have been showing up, and if everyone could think of all the times in their life where they had the courage, had the confidence to show up even when they didn't want to, you're gonna feel a lot more of that today, rather than waiting to win to feel confident.

Speaker 45:00 I think confidence, it's, it's, it's a, it's a process, you know? You're building this confidence, like, step by step. Like, by waking up the, the, like, the early morning, by sh- showing up, uh, somewhere you didn't want to, you know? Like, and, like, slowly building your confidence. It's all about, like, these little, little steps.

Jay Shetty 45:19 Yeah. Do you have any unusual rituals or any, like, things that you do before you go out on court or on a day? Like, do you, do you, uh, do you bounce the ball a number of times? Do you throw it a certain way? Is there, like, a little, little trick or a little thing that you have personally that works for you?

Speaker 45:36 Uh, well, I have the same breakfast-

Jay Shetty 45:39 Oh, you do?

Speaker 45:39 ... throughout the tournament. That's my, you know?

Jay Shetty 45:41 What is your go-to breakfast?

Speaker 45:42 Oh, I love avocado toast.

Jay Shetty 45:44 Okay.

Speaker 45:44 With, uh, with two fried eggs from both sides. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 45:49 [laughs]

Speaker 45:49 Over easy. It has to be perfect. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 45:52 [laughs]

Speaker 45:52 I gave so much trouble to some of the places with these eggs. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 45:55 'Cause it has to be perfect.

Speaker 45:56 It has to be perfect. I don't know. I'm, maybe I'm crazy. And the smoked salmon on the side.

Jay Shetty 46:01 Okay.

Speaker 46:01 That's my go-to.

Jay Shetty 46:02 That's your go-to breakfast.

Speaker 46:03 I love this breakfast. I always come back to this one.

Jay Shetty 46:05 Yeah, yeah. Very specific.

Speaker 46:07 Yes. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 46:07 Yeah, it's good.

Speaker 46:08 Maybe this, and then I think about the bouncing the ball. I think it's all about the habit. Uh, maybe I actually pick the balls from the ball kids. I always pick from... Like, if I win the point and I picked from, like, well, it doesn't matter which corner. Like, for example, from the right, right corner-

Jay Shetty 46:27 [laughs]

Speaker 46:27 How I show the right. I mean, left corner.

Jay Shetty 46:30 [laughs]

Speaker 46:30 [laughs] I will keep, like, picking up the balls from, from that kid.

Jay Shetty 46:35 Got it.

Speaker 46:35 I don't know why. It just, like, gives me, uh, give me, I don't know, a good feeling. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 46:41 Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. We... I, I feel like we all have these little things that-

Speaker 46:44 Little things

Jay Shetty 46:44 Yeah, a little-

Speaker 46:44 But as long as it, uh, as these things in your control, it's good.

Jay Shetty 46:48 Yeah.

Speaker 46:49 When you, like, you know, rely on something that it's not in our control, then it can become a problem.

Jay Shetty 46:54 Yeah, yeah. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. I, I've... I mean, I'd be honest. A- any athlete I've ever interviewed who has continued to be a high performer in their life for a long time has a definite breakfast for their, uh, game day. It's, like, a very common trait, like, to have a, a specific breakfast.

Speaker 47:10 Well, you know-

Jay Shetty 47:11 Have that continuity

Speaker 47:12 ... because I love, like, m- uh, for me, the main meal is breakfast. I like, I like to sit there, enjoy my breakfast, have, like, uh, have my cup of, uh, coffee and, um, yeah, that's my ritual, you know?

Jay Shetty 47:25 Yeah.

Jay Shetty 47:26 Who do you... I asked this to Novak recently when he was on the show. I was like, "Who do you cons- consider your toughest opponent mentally?"

Speaker 47:36 Whom did he say?

Jay Shetty 47:37 He said himself.

Speaker 47:38 Himself? [laughs]

Jay Shetty 47:39 It's a good answer, right? [laughs]

Speaker 47:41 It's a good answer.

Jay Shetty 47:42 I'll cut that out. You can say it as well.

Speaker 47:45 Well, yeah, myself. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 47:46 [laughs]

Speaker 47:47 Thanks, Novak. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 47:48 Yeah. [laughs]

Speaker 47:49 No, I, I cannot pick one. You know why? Because everyone is tough, you know? Like, it's tough. Like, everyone brings, like, different challenges, you know? And it's tough to, like, say, "Okay, she's, like, the toughest one for me," because then you underestimate the rest of the group, which is not right. So all of them brings, like, different challenges, but I think, Novak, thank you for that.

Jay Shetty 48:10 [laughs]

Speaker 48:11 You're the biggest, biggest opponent.

Jay Shetty 48:12 Yeah, you're always, you're your biggest mental competitor, yeah.

Speaker 48:16 Yes.

Jay Shetty 48:16 'Cause you're the one pushing yourself the hardest.

Speaker 48:17 Exactly.

Jay Shetty 48:17 Yeah.

Speaker 48:17 Exactly.

Jay Shetty 48:18 For sure. It's a good answer.

Speaker 48:19 [laughs]

Jay Shetty 48:19 What about your toughest opponent physically?

Speaker 48:22 Coco, um, Iga. Yeah, these two, like, I think physically, um, brings the biggest challenge.

Jay Shetty 48:31 In, in what sense?

Speaker 48:32 They, they move really great, so sometimes you build a point and probably with others, like, this shot will be a winner, but with them sometimes you have to, like, rebuild the point and, yeah, physically it's not easy. Physically and mentally it's not easy, like, to, like, you know, stay, stay strong and, uh, be ready that the ball gonna come back, uh, every time and you have to, like-Be really strong physically to handle that, that intensity.

Jay Shetty 48:58 Yeah. How, how does it feel? Do you have lots of... I'm sure you have so many young tennis players, both men and women, coming up to you feeling inspired-

Speaker 49:05 Oh, that's the best thing

Jay Shetty 49:05 ... feeling excited about your journey. Like, how does that feel?

Speaker 49:09 I think that's the goal in life, and I always wanted to be a good example for next generation. And when kids run to me and say, "I love you, you're my inspiration," that's, you know, that's what, what actually

Speaker 49:21 matters in life.

Jay Shetty 49:22 What do you say to young athletes who are inspired by you, are moved by you? What, what's your advice to them? What's your words of wisdom?

Speaker 49:30 Surround yourself with the right people. That's the main thing, because with the right people, you can achieve anything.

Jay Shetty 49:37 Mm. That's good advice.

Speaker 49:38 [laughs]

Jay Shetty 49:39 Is it, did it take you time to find the right people to surround yourself with? Like, is that, is that hard?

Speaker 49:44 It's hard. It's really hard, because there is so many, um, let's say, interesting people around. But yeah, it took me, it took me, it took me time. Um, I was really happy to have my, uh, my coach, uh, with me for, I don't know, like how many years already, my fitness coach and a tennis coach, so they've been there for me. And, and then, um, find the right, um, the right agent, the right... I mean, yeah, it took, it took time to build the right people.

Jay Shetty 50:14 Yeah, it does. I, I feel like that's true in, again, in business, in sports, in everything. Finding the right team-

Speaker 50:20 You go through tough-

Jay Shetty 50:21 ... is everything.

Speaker 50:21 Yeah, you go through being betrayed by someone, and, you know, like, people come, people go, and it's a process. But I feel like the moment you find your pe- your, your people, you better stick to that group, because this is what gives you, um, energy and power to keep going. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 50:37 Yeah. I remember I had a, I had a physical therapist that I was working with at that time, but we ended up talking while I'd be doing physical therapy, too.

Speaker 50:46 Mm.

Jay Shetty 50:47 And it was really interesting. She said to me once, this was years ago, this was, like, maybe six years ago now.

Speaker 50:52 Mm-hmm.

Jay Shetty 50:53 And she said to me, she said, "Jay, it's funny, like, it feels like the only people that stress you out are the people you pay." And 'cause she was saying, when I talk, when I am venting, when I'm saying something, she was saying it was only the people in your professional world. She was like, "It seems like your personal life's great."

Speaker 51:08 Mm.

Jay Shetty 51:08 Like, my relationship with my wife-

Speaker 51:09 Yeah

Jay Shetty 51:09 ... my relationship with my family, my sister, my, my parents. But she was like, "Oh, it seems like whenever you're going through something painful, it's always to do something in your life that's part of your business." And it really, like, was, like, a moment for me, because I was like, "Oh, I've gotta, I've gotta think about this as much." 'Cause I think when I first, at least for me, when I first started moving, I didn't know anyone in the entertainment industry. I didn't know anyone in this-

Speaker 51:32 Mm-hmm

Jay Shetty 51:32 ... world. And so I was just trying to surround myself with people who were smart, who knew what they were doing.

Speaker 51:37 Mm.

Jay Shetty 51:37 But they weren't necessarily on the same energy and vibrancy-

Speaker 51:40 Mm

Jay Shetty 51:40 ... if that makes sense.

Speaker 51:41 Yeah, yeah.

Jay Shetty 51:41 Does that make sense? Like-

Speaker 51:42 Yeah

Jay Shetty 51:42 ... you've had to find people on the same frequency.

Speaker 51:44 Yeah, yeah. I think it's important to have people with a good energy, the energy that fits, and, and that you, yeah, you understand each other, and that seems like your people, you know?

Jay Shetty 51:55 Yeah. That's why you, right now, when we said, "What do you wanna get for food?" You were like, "No, my team knows me."

Speaker 52:00 You know? They know.

Jay Shetty 52:00 You're like, "I trust them." Like, it was... [laughs]

Speaker 52:02 That's, that's, that's what I mean. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 52:04 Yeah. And r- this year you launched Aryna's Arena, right?

Speaker 52:07 Yeah, yeah.

Jay Shetty 52:07 Which I love, which is giving people more access-

Speaker 52:10 Yeah

Jay Shetty 52:10 ... to know your team and the dynamics. Talk to us about that.

Speaker 52:12 Yeah. I want to share myself. I want to, uh, share my life. I want life. I want to, you know, show those little kids that, like, we're all people. Like, you know? You don't have to be perfect to be successful, right? And I want to show, like, what it takes to, you know, to, to be where I am, and that, that is, like, that is real, and you just gotta work.

Jay Shetty 52:37 Yeah, yeah. It's, it's, it's great to give people access to that, 'cause like you said, it... And the truth is, tennis is such an individual sport, and I've, I've had the fortune of interviewing people from so many different sports, but tennis and Formula 1 are, like, so dependent on the individual in the sense that you're the one playing-

Speaker 52:55 Yeah

Jay Shetty 52:55 ... the game. At the same time, like you said, there is a team, and so it's important to show that. Same in F1, there is a team.

Speaker 53:00 Yeah.

Jay Shetty 53:01 But there's just so mu- even when you celebrate that day, like when you won, I was like, wait a minute, when you're on the court, you have to celebrate on your own.

Speaker 53:08 Mm-hmm.

Jay Shetty 53:08 Like, the moment you win, whereas if you watch any other sport, the team will come together-

Speaker 53:12 Yeah, the, yeah

Jay Shetty 53:13 ... the players run to each other, and it's like obviously you can do that when you get into the stands, but that moment, you've gotta savor it. Like, when you drop to your knees and, you know.

Speaker 53:22 Yeah, that was very, very emotional moment. I, I still, you know, feel this, um... Because, you know, yeah, you have a huge team, and the amount of work that those guys put in, it's incredible, and y- I, I feel, like, kind of, kind of, like, responsible for that. Because I know that they deserve to be the best coaches, like, the best agent, the, the best, uh, physio, like, the best team, you know? So I feel responsible when I'm out there competing, because doesn't matter how much work they put in, you know? It's, at the end, it's, like, all depends on me, you know? And they don't know, like, if, you know, if I'll go out there and I'll play my best and if I'll win, you know? So when I'm there competing, I'm not c- only competing for myself, I compete for my team. But I'm, like, there, and I, I'm responsible for that, you know?

Jay Shetty 54:12 Yeah.

Speaker 54:12 On my own. So-

Jay Shetty 54:13 Yeah, you're carrying a lot.

Speaker 54:14 Yeah. Yeah, exactly. So it's, it's tough, and that's why I feel like most of the athletes, like, like they, not athletes, but tennis players and Formula 1, they sort of, like, crying after, like, winning something, because, you know, all that pressure, all that things in your head, they just slowly go away and you feel, "Okay, I did it." You know?

Jay Shetty 54:36 Mm.

Speaker 54:36 But Formula 1 is another level. Like, uh, I'm a fan. I don't, I don't know how, how they do that. It's like, you know, they put sort of, like, their life in risk, and it's so fast and so crazy, and for me, this is intense. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 54:52 Yeah. I mean, I mean, it's all intense, I'm sure.

Speaker 54:54 No, because, you know, we have breaks, like, between the points-

Jay Shetty 54:57 [laughs]

Speaker 54:57 ... between the games.Those guys, they're there for I don't know how long, like hour and something, right? And they're there, and, like, if they just lose focus for a second, gone, you know?

Jay Shetty 55:09 Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 55:09 This is tough.

Jay Shetty 55:10 It is scary knowing that you could take your own life and someone else's, and it's got... The sport has got so much safer over time, so it's good. Yeah.

Speaker 55:16 Yeah, I know. It's safer now.

Jay Shetty 55:17 It's got-

Speaker 55:17 But still, you know?

Jay Shetty 55:18 ... much better, yeah, yeah.

Jay Shetty 55:19 Yeah.

Speaker 55:19 Um-

Jay Shetty 55:19 What... Are there any sports that you watch, that you love, that you follow?

Speaker 55:23 I love, uh, basketball. I love, um, ice hockey. But it's not like I really have-

Jay Shetty 55:30 Yeah

Speaker 55:30 ... like one team.

Jay Shetty 55:31 Okay.

Speaker 55:31 One team that I support. I just love to watch.

Jay Shetty 55:34 Mm.

Speaker 55:34 Especially, like, for, with, with, uh, basketball, sitting on the court side, when I see the way those guys move, like, with their, like, height and everything, I'm like, I always, like, message my fitness coach. Like, "Okay, we gotta do something."

Jay Shetty 55:47 [laughs]

Speaker 55:47 You know? But I'll, I'm like, I'm just, like, frozen in the moment because I just look how they move, you know? Probably it's like a, a professional defect or something, you know?

Jay Shetty 55:57 [laughs]

Speaker 55:57 Because I just watch the, their, like, movement and it's, it's crazy. It's crazy what those guys do.

Jay Shetty 56:02 Yeah, you're watching a different game because you're looking at the physicality-

Speaker 56:04 Yeah, I look at different things probably

Jay Shetty 56:06 ... and their movement. Yeah.

Speaker 56:06 Yeah, in Formula 1, I'm just, like, sitting there, and I'm like, how they can be focused for so long without, like, losing their focus, like-

Jay Shetty 56:14 Those races-

Speaker 56:14 ... corner after corner. Cor- like, it's crazy.

Jay Shetty 56:17 Yeah, and it's repetitive as well. It's like-

Speaker 56:19 Yeah, you know, it's, um, crazy

Jay Shetty 56:21 ... just doing the same thing. Yeah.

Speaker 56:21 That's what, that's what, what actually crazy.

Jay Shetty 56:23 Yeah, yeah. No, and

Jay Shetty 56:25 how, how much time do you give yourself to now celebrate? You're doing press today. I mean, like we said, it's only 48 hours. How long before you have to get back to training, back on the grind, back to the discipline?

Speaker 56:36 Well, the schedule is, is, uh, is tough, you know? But I think I'm gonna give myself couple more days to celebrate, and then we're gonna go back, back to work, but, like, also slowly, like starting probably from the gym, and then, yeah, we're gonna build up because we have, um, a couple more tournaments and, and then the finals, uh, uh, which is, like, top eight, uh, players compete for the, you know, for the, for another big trophy. So we have couple more big tournaments coming up. But for now, I'm gonna take couple days to celebrate because, you know, when I was struggling, I was always, uh, going back to those moments when I, uh, when I was winning those Grand Slams, and I was like, I, I was thinking like, "I wish I could just experience that again," and I, I will celebrate like crazy because you never know if this moment gonna come again, you know? Of course, you work, you hope, you do your best, but at the end of the day, you never know, right? So, um, so earlier this season, I, I said to myself, "Okay, if I will win it this year, I'm gonna, I'm gonna celebrate, and I'll truly enjoy it," you know?

Jay Shetty 57:45 Yeah.

Speaker 57:45 So the plan is for the next couple of days-

Jay Shetty 57:48 Yeah

Speaker 57:49 ... enjoy it. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 57:49 It's, it's good, it's good that you're honoring that 'cause sometimes you say that before, and then after you win it, you're like, "Oh, now I need to just get back to it." So it's nice that you're-

Speaker 57:56 No, no, no, no. I'm like, I have this control.

Jay Shetty 57:58 Yeah.

Speaker 57:58 I'm like, I'm like that. I'm like, "Okay, I need to go back," but I'm like, "No, no, no, no, no. We gotta, we gotta-"

Jay Shetty 58:03 Yeah, we gotta do it

Speaker 58:03 ... "we gotta enjoy."

Jay Shetty 58:04 Yeah, we gotta do it.

Speaker 58:05 [laughs]

Jay Shetty 58:05 No, I love that. I loved what you posted on your Instagram. You wrote, "To my team, I wouldn't be here without you, but don't forget, you wouldn't be here without me." [laughs]

Speaker 58:13 [laughs] It wouldn't be me without, uh, joking.

Jay Shetty 58:15 Some, some little... Yeah.

Speaker 58:16 Some little, you know? [laughs]

Jay Shetty 58:17 Little, eh.

Speaker 58:18 Don't forget. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 58:19 Some little spice. Some little-

Speaker 58:20 I mean, that's who I am, you know? [laughs]

Jay Shetty 58:22 Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, I, I, I, I genuinely, I genuinely love that you're honoring your, your time and energy to celebrate. It's, it's, it's such a great reminder. I feel like for years and years and years in my career, I was just going, going, going, going, going, and there was... To be more mindful, to be more present, to really take it in because-

Speaker 58:39 And also mentally to be healthy, right?

Jay Shetty 58:40 Absolutely.

Speaker 58:40 It's important to balance this hard work with a little joy.

Jay Shetty 58:44 Yeah, you only

Jay Shetty 58:45 come back sharper.

Speaker 58:46 Exactly.

Jay Shetty 58:46 Have you found that as well? Has that been a big part of your recovery-

Speaker 58:49 Yes

Jay Shetty 58:49 ... to recognize, you were talking about sleep earlier. Like, talk to me about the need for rest and recovery and what you do to really find stillness.

Speaker 58:56 I feel like recovery is, uh, is the key, you know? And if before I would blame myself even for going, um, for a dinner during the tournament because I would think, I would feel like, oh, it's, uh, it distract me and, uh, um, I, I wouldn't be able to be focused tomorrow. No, it's wrong, you know? You, you have to, um, you have to go for dinner. You have to do things that brings you joy. You, you have to, uh, like sleep. You have to focus on your recovery as well because this is part of the process, you know? Like, uh, to be able physically and mentally hand, uh, handle this, uh, pressure and this intensity, you have to have a good recovery. So it's also one of the main priorities for us.

Jay Shetty 59:38 Mm,

Jay Shetty 59:39 I love that. So Aryna, I know you have this Battle of the Sexes game coming up with Nick. Nick had been on the show. Uh, very excited about this repeat. I don't think it's ever been done again since the day-

Speaker 59:49 No, I think it is, it's been done, like, long, long time ago.

Jay Shetty 59:52 Yeah, Billie Jean King.

Speaker 59:53 Like, yeah.

Jay Shetty 59:53 Yeah, like-

Speaker 59:54 Like, really long

Jay Shetty 59:54 ... years ago. Yeah

Speaker 59:55 When was that? When was the year?

Speaker 59:57 The '70s.

Jay Shetty 59:57 The '70s, yeah.

Speaker 59:58 Wow.

Jay Shetty 59:58 Great game.

Speaker 59:59 It's been, it's been a while, right? [laughs]

Jay Shetty 59:59 Great movie about the... If, if anyone hasn't seen the actual game, there's a great movie about it, too, and so, with Emma Stone I think as Steve Carl.

Speaker 1:00:05 We're bringing it back.

Jay Shetty 1:00:06 Yeah, it's... Yeah, you're bringing it back.

Speaker 1:00:08 [laughs]

Jay Shetty 1:00:08 What, what inspired this?

Speaker 1:00:11 Well, uh, yeah, since we're fighting for equal prize money, I believe, uh, uh, that's, that's the reason, no? [laughs]

Jay Shetty 1:00:19 [laughs]

Speaker 1:00:19 No, but mostly just, I think it's fun, and it's cool to see, and it's, uh, um, interesting for me to play against a man, and I'm ready to kick his, uh... Are we allowed to use this word?

Jay Shetty 1:00:29 Yeah, yeah. You can-

Speaker 1:00:30 Kick his ass, right?

Jay Shetty 1:00:31 Yeah.

Speaker 1:00:31 I pu- I, I'm putting a lot of pressure on him right now, so I hope he's gonna just withdraw from, from feeling all of the pressure.

Jay Shetty 1:00:38 Yeah, you can say whatever you want. Give us that message to Nick. I'm gonna send it to Nick straight away after this mes- uh call

Speaker 1:00:43 Well, Nick, you gotta be ready. You better be ready, and, um, yeah, I'm gonna, I'm gonna kick your ass, man.

Jay Shetty 1:00:52 [laughs] I love it. I love it

Speaker 1:00:54 [laughs] I think the ATP gonna cancel the battle

Jay Shetty 1:00:56 [laughs]

Speaker 1:00:57 [laughs] Gonna be like, "Well, okay, if it's happening, let it be, like, Jannik or, or, or Carlos, but not, [laughs] not Nick."

Jay Shetty 1:01:04 They're turning in- this is turning into, like, a boxing match it feels like. It's like UFC or-

Speaker 1:01:07 Yeah. I'll make sure that I'm... I'll, I'll send him some drinks before the, before the battle just so, you know.

Jay Shetty 1:01:13 Oh, yeah, and you've got some little tricks up your sleeve like that? You-

Speaker 1:01:15 Yeah. Yeah, you know, I'm gonna-

Jay Shetty 1:01:16 [laughs]

Speaker 1:01:16 ... make sure he's not ready. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 1:01:18 I love it. And talk to me about this c- court chains they're gonna have to help make it make sense.

Speaker 1:01:23 So basically I'll be on the side with, like, a smaller court.

Jay Shetty 1:01:27 Got it.

Speaker 1:01:28 And he's gonna be-

Jay Shetty 1:01:28 So he has a smaller area to play into

Speaker 1:01:29 Yeah, to, to hit. And, um, and he's, he's gonna be on the-

Jay Shetty 1:01:34 Regular side

Speaker 1:01:35 ... regular side.

Jay Shetty 1:01:35 Okay.

Speaker 1:01:35 So kind of, like, unfair already, right? [laughs]

Jay Shetty 1:01:39 Well, well, I don't know if it's unfair.

Speaker 1:01:40 And I think we're gonna have, um, one serve each. Um, that's it.

Jay Shetty 1:01:46 That's very exciting. Where's it taking place?

Speaker 1:01:49 We're still trying to figure it, take place.

Jay Shetty 1:01:50 Okay. All right. I wanna come watch.

Speaker 1:01:52 Come. Come watch.

Jay Shetty 1:01:52 So you gotta let me know, yeah. I'll come cheer.

Speaker 1:01:54 But you gotta, you're gonna sit on, on my side.

Jay Shetty 1:01:55 I'll cheer for you. I'll cheer for you.

Speaker 1:01:56 Okay. Good. [laughs] Thank you.

Jay Shetty 1:01:57 Yeah, yeah. I'll, I'll... I'm gonna message Nick now going, "I'm cheering for Aryna."

Speaker 1:01:59 I'm sorry. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 1:02:00 Yeah. I love it. I'm on your side.

Speaker 1:02:02 Love it. Yeah. [laughs] Thank you.

Jay Shetty 1:02:03 I love it. Aryna, is there anything I haven't asked you that you wish I did ask you? Anything you want-

Speaker 1:02:07 You know, I think you... I mean, you know what are you doing.

Jay Shetty 1:02:10 [laughs]

Speaker 1:02:10 You know what you do. You, you ask everything I wished, uh, of talking about, so.

Jay Shetty 1:02:16 Yeah? I'm making sure, 'cause I, I, I, like, I, I don't take these opportunities for granted. I feel so lucky that I get to sit with you 48 after, uh, 48 hours after winning. I feel so fortunate I get to speak to one of the best-

Speaker 1:02:29 I-

Jay Shetty 1:02:29 ... you know, in the game

Speaker 1:02:29 ... I'm, I'm so happy, uh-

Jay Shetty 1:02:31 Number one in the world

Speaker 1:02:32 ... I'm so happy to be in your podcast, and it's been a dream of mine for so long, and, uh, finally we, we did it.

Jay Shetty 1:02:38 We did it.

Speaker 1:02:39 Thank you. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 1:02:40 We did it. I'm, I'm so grateful that I get to be part of your dreams. I mean

Jay Shetty 1:02:43 that. We end every episode with a Final Five.

Speaker 1:02:45 Mm-hmm.

Jay Shetty 1:02:45 So these have to be answered in one word to one sentence maximum.

Speaker 1:02:49 Okay.

Jay Shetty 1:02:49 But I always, I always go away from that, so-

Speaker 1:02:51 [laughs]

Jay Shetty 1:02:52 ... don't worry about it.

Speaker 1:02:52 Okay. Let's see. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 1:02:53 Uh, uh, Aryna Sabalenka, these are your Final Five. The first question is, what is the best advice you've ever had or received?

Speaker 1:03:01 Focus on yourself and don't listen to people, because most of the people want you to fail, so focus on yourself and on people close to you.

Jay Shetty 1:03:10 Who said that to you?

Speaker 1:03:12 My father.

Jay Shetty 1:03:13 That's awesome.

Speaker 1:03:14 [laughs]

Jay Shetty 1:03:14 How old were you when he first said that to you?

Speaker 1:03:16 He said it to me when I was 17, I think.

Jay Shetty 1:03:19 Okay.

Speaker 1:03:20 He was waiting probably for the moment, uh, for me to be ready to, uh, I don't know, to, um, accept some sort of deep advice, actually.

Jay Shetty 1:03:30 Yeah. How long before you feel you really took it to heart and really understood it?

Speaker 1:03:35 Maybe when he passed away, you know? I feel like when we're, we are losing, um, a person, that, that, that... This is the moment when we actually realize how much we lost, you know? Like, and we appreciate every little small detail. And the br- the memories keep, uh, still coming up in my head, you know? I'm like, "Oh." You know?

Jay Shetty 1:03:57 Mm-hmm.

Speaker 1:03:57 So you have to, you have to appreciate. If you still have your family, just for people, you have to appreciate it, and you have to really, um, take care of your closest one.

Jay Shetty 1:04:11 Mm-hmm. Do you keep any physical part of him on you anytime when you're playing, or in your bag, or anywhere, or not really? That's... It's more in your heart and your mind.

Speaker 1:04:18 It's more in my heart.

Jay Shetty 1:04:19 Yeah.

Speaker 1:04:19 It's more in my heart. Uh, when he passed away, I had, um, audios from him.

Jay Shetty 1:04:24 Mm-hmm.

Speaker 1:04:25 But then I was crying like crazy when I, uh, when I figured that they disappeared after, like, a year, and I didn't, like, record it, save it somehow. It was in, in, in the app, just to, like, keep his voice. And because he wasn't the person who would, like, take a lot of videos, you know, like, pictures and stuff, I don't have that either, either. So I was really depressed that I don't have his, like, voice, but he's in my, in my heart and my memory. I think that's the most important.

Jay Shetty 1:04:52 That's beautiful. Uh, question number two, what is the worst advice you've ever had or received?

Speaker 1:04:57 You know, like, bad things never stay in my head, so.

Jay Shetty 1:05:00 [laughs] Good answer.

Speaker 1:05:01 I, I don't remember any, like, bad advice.

Jay Shetty 1:05:04 That's a good answer.

Speaker 1:05:05 Work with IMG maybe.

Jay Shetty 1:05:06 [laughs] Good answer. All right. Very cool. Uh, question number three, I'm gonna say, uh... Oh, what would you say are your three most life-changing games that you've ever played? Three most life-changing matches. And they don't have to be finals or wins, just-

Speaker 1:05:24 Yeah, I think, uh-

Jay Shetty 1:05:25 ... three that come to your mind

Speaker 1:05:27 ... uh, the semifinal against Madison Keys at the U.S. Open two year, two years ago, I think. Yeah, two years ago.

Jay Shetty 1:05:36 Why that one?

Speaker 1:05:37 Because I was down set and, I think, 5-1 or something, and I came back in the match and I won that one and I made my first final, so I think that was the moment when, when I realized a lot of things.

Jay Shetty 1:05:49 How does it feel to be 5-1 down?

Speaker 1:05:51 Oh, it feels, uh, it feels terrible. [laughs] It's a terrible feeling, but you're still hoping that maybe... [laughs]

Jay Shetty 1:05:58 How do you keep hope in that moment? Because 5-1's literally, like-

Speaker 1:06:01 Yeah, it's like, okay, there's no-

Jay Shetty 1:06:02 It's like you're, like, a few points from-

Speaker 1:06:03 Especially b- a- against big server, you know.

Jay Shetty 1:06:05 Yeah.

Speaker 1:06:05 You're like, "Ah, no chance." I don't know, you-

Jay Shetty 1:06:08 How do you keep hope? What are you holding onto?

Speaker 1:06:09 You're just trying, you know? Like, you... I was, like, reminding myself, I mean, it's a dream to be in the semis.

Jay Shetty 1:06:14 Mm-hmm.

Speaker 1:06:15 So there is no way you're gonna give up, even... Like, it doesn't matter how thing's going on, like how badly it is, you have to, like, still try, and then maybe, maybe there is going to be a moment when you figured something and you find your game, your rhythm, and you get the win, and I did it, and it was kind of like a life-changing, uh, moment. Then, oh, what else? Winning the first Slam, of course, gave me huge, huge, uh, belief, you know, that, okay, I'm capable of it, and my life wasn't waste of time, you know? And the third one-

Jay Shetty 1:06:54 Your life was definitely not a waste of time. [laughs]

Speaker 1:06:56 [laughs] No, but you know, I w- I-

Jay Shetty 1:06:58 No, I know what you mean. Like, your career just wasn't

Speaker 1:07:00 It's, it would be really difficult for me to finish my career without the Slam. And the third one, mm, I don't know. I don't know. There was one match, uh, when I won. There is a tournament in Doha, and I won the tournament, but I think in quarterfinals I was also, like, down the set and was struggling a lot, was playing really not my best tennis, and I won that match and then I won the tournament. Also was kind of like a big moment for me. I think those three.

Jay Shetty 1:07:33 It's, it's amazing that the two of the ones you chose are when you're down-

Speaker 1:07:36 Yeah

Jay Shetty 1:07:37 ... and you come back. Like, there's something about-

Speaker 1:07:39 This is the moment-

Jay Shetty 1:07:40 Yeah

Speaker 1:07:40 ... where you, like, gives you, like, that power. Because next match you play you think, "Oh, I mean, come on, I've been down 5-1. Seriously, you, you think that I'm gonna give up like that just because I, like, lose my serve or whatever?" So it just gives you that power to fight.

Jay Shetty 1:07:56 Yeah, yeah. It's a great reminder to all of us that-

Speaker 1:07:58 No matter what

Jay Shetty 1:07:58 ... those, those are the moments to look out for because they become your best stories.

Speaker 1:08:01 Yes.

Jay Shetty 1:08:01 They become your best glory.

Speaker 1:08:02 Stay there, stay there.

Jay Shetty 1:08:04 Yeah.

Speaker 1:08:04 Keep fighting, and this is, this is probably the biggest moment.

Jay Shetty 1:08:08 Yeah. Uh, question number three. F- what do you think people misunderstand about you that you'd like to clarify?

Speaker 1:08:14 Well, I think because now I'm sharing myself more on social media, they have better understanding about me. But I think there is still some people that they think that the way I am on court, this is, like, reflection of me off court, which is not true. Because I think, as I said earlier, you know, I'm r- I'm quite aggressive because I'm, on court, because I'm fighting for my dream there, and this is not the time wh- where you have to be nice.

Jay Shetty 1:08:41 Yeah.

Speaker 1:08:42 Because off the court I'm much nicer. Like, I'm chill. It's really tough to get into a fight with me, you know?

Jay Shetty 1:08:49 [laughs]

Speaker 1:08:49 So you have to do something terrible.

Jay Shetty 1:08:52 Yeah.

Speaker 1:08:52 Probably my boyfriend will say different, but-

Jay Shetty 1:08:54 [laughs]

Speaker 1:08:55 ... I still think [laughs] yeah, uh, so people misunderstand that, that I'm different person.

Jay Shetty 1:09:01 Yeah. Pe- if people say, like, "Oh, she's too emotional or unstable," or whatever it is, you're like, "That's just on the court. I have to be."

Speaker 1:09:08 That's, yeah, that's on the court.

Jay Shetty 1:09:10 Yeah.

Speaker 1:09:10 That's Aryna on the court.

Jay Shetty 1:09:12 Yeah, and that's not Aryna off court.

Speaker 1:09:13 Yeah.

Jay Shetty 1:09:14 I get that. I mean [laughs] this sounds ridiculous, but it's so true. Like, it, me and my friends just play amateur everything. Like, I don't play any sport well, but we get so competitive just playing around.

Speaker 1:09:27 I mean-

Jay Shetty 1:09:27 So I can't imagine

Speaker 1:09:28 ... I love watching, like, you know, people-

Jay Shetty 1:09:30 Yeah

Speaker 1:09:30 ... play, play tennis for fun, but they-

Jay Shetty 1:09:32 That's what I mean. Like, I can't imagine

Speaker 1:09:33 ... but they not taking it as fun, you know? They go full.

Jay Shetty 1:09:36 Exactly, and you're, like, actually playing a tournament. Like, I'm like, I- I'm pretty, I'm pretty... All my friends know that when we're playing a sport, I'm extremely competitive-

Speaker 1:09:43 [laughs]

Jay Shetty 1:09:44 ... and I'm not like that in real life or in person. I'm, you know... And that's, and I'm not even playing the final of a-

Speaker 1:09:50 [laughs]

Jay Shetty 1:09:50 You know? And so, yeah, there's, there has to be a bit of grace. I feel like-

Speaker 1:09:53 Yeah

Jay Shetty 1:09:53 ... there has to be a bit of grace for athletes. I'm like, you'll, y- you realize this is-

Speaker 1:09:56 Yeah, like a little bit, like, you know? Like-

Jay Shetty 1:09:58 I'm-

Speaker 1:09:58 ... stop yourself and, like, look at everything as a bigger picture, you know? Like, okay. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 1:10:02 Yeah, definitely. Uh, num, question number four before the fifth. Which way do I wanna go here?

Speaker 1:10:09 [laughs]

Jay Shetty 1:10:10 One day, long time from now, we hope you're gonna win so many more Grand Slams.

Speaker 1:10:14 Fingers crossed. [laughs]

Jay Shetty 1:10:14 I'm, I'm putting out loads of good energy. What would you, when you look back on your career, what would you like for yourself to feel about it? What would you like to say about your own career?

Speaker 1:10:22 I would love to look back and say I've done everything I could, and I want my career to be remembered. Like, and, and, and I want to see young kids being inspired by me, and I wanna look back and know that I actually inspired a lot. And, and, um, yeah, I wanna be in the history.

Jay Shetty 1:10:47 Mm. I love that.

Speaker 1:10:48 [laughs]

Jay Shetty 1:10:48 I love that. You already are. You already are.

Speaker 1:10:50 [laughs]

Jay Shetty 1:10:51 [laughs]

Speaker 1:10:51 Sort of.

Jay Shetty 1:10:52 Yeah. [laughs]

Speaker 1:10:52 Not even close to the greatest, but, but trying.

Jay Shetty 1:10:56 Yeah. I, I... Well, the trying's, the trying's the most important part. It's wonderful to hear you say that. It's, it's really special. If you remind kids to try, I think that would help a lot of kids.

Speaker 1:11:04 Yeah.

Jay Shetty 1:11:05 'Cause not, you know, not every kid will become number one, but every kid can try and chase their dream. That would be a good world to live in. So, yeah.

Speaker 1:11:12 Just give your best and-

Jay Shetty 1:11:13 Yeah

Speaker 1:11:13 ... that's, that's all you, you can do.

Jay Shetty 1:11:15 Yeah. Uh, fifth and final question, Aryna. We ask this to every guest who's ever been on the show. The question is, if you could create one law that everyone in the world had to follow, what would it be?

Speaker 1:11:28 I want everything to be decided in a conversation, and no wars and stuff. Just, like, sit down, speak, and figure out all of the problems.

Jay Shetty 1:11:41 Mm. That's a great law. Save a lot-

Speaker 1:11:44 That's all we need in-

Jay Shetty 1:11:45 That's what we need

Speaker 1:11:46 ... in the world right now.

Jay Shetty 1:11:47 Save a lot of, uh-

Speaker 1:11:48 Lives

Jay Shetty 1:11:49 ... yeah, save a lot of lives, yeah, if we were able to solve things by-

Speaker 1:11:52 Just by talking, sitting and figuring, and not leaving the room, uh, before you figured something.

Jay Shetty 1:11:58 Yeah. That's a great answer. We've never had that before. Aryna Sabalenka, congratulations again.

Speaker 1:12:03 Thank you. Thank you so much.

Jay Shetty 1:12:03 Thank you for doing this.

Speaker 1:12:05 Thank you for having me.

Jay Shetty 1:12:05 I'm looking forward to you coming on many years. Usually, when people come on once, they come on a few times, so I look forward to doing this with you many, many times.

Speaker 1:12:12 Let's... Yeah.

Jay Shetty 1:12:12 Um-

Speaker 1:12:12 Let's make it as, uh, as our tradition.

Jay Shetty 1:12:14 Yes. I'd-

Speaker 1:12:15 Tradition

Jay Shetty 1:12:15 ... I'd love that. I'd love that.

Speaker 1:12:16 Yeah.

Jay Shetty 1:12:16 Congrats, and-

Speaker 1:12:17 Thank you

Jay Shetty 1:12:17 ... thank you for bringing the first ever trophy-

Speaker 1:12:19 Of course

Jay Shetty 1:12:19 ... to the show.

Speaker 1:12:20 Yeah.

Jay Shetty 1:12:20 You deserve it, and, uh, you're, you're a true champion and a, a true leader, so thank you so much.

Speaker 1:12:25 Thank you so much for having me.

Jay Shetty 1:12:27 Thank you, Aryna.

Speaker 1:12:27 Thank you.

Jay Shetty 1:12:27 If you loved this podcast, you'll love my episode with Lewis Hamilton. Lewis and I talk about why you should stop chasing society's definition of success and how to be more intentional with your goals. You don't want to miss it. Like, it's not about being perfect. It's about just every day, one step at a time, trying to be better, trying to do more. I'm learning a lot about myself. I have to break myself down in order to be able to be better