Jay Shetty PodcastAryna Sabalenka: “If You Heard My Self-Talk, You’d Think Something’s Wrong With Me”
EVERY SPOKEN WORD
75 min read · 15,072 words- 0:00 – 1:28
Intro
- SPSpeaker
[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]
- SPSpeaker
[dramatic music] The number one health and wellness podcast.
- SPSpeaker
Jay Shetty.
- SPSpeaker
Jay Shetty.
- SPSpeaker
The one, the only, Jay Shetty.
- SPSpeaker
[laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
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.
- SPSpeaker
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]
- JSJay Shetty
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-
- SPSpeaker
[laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
... the amazing sportsmanship, like, just incredible play. It was fantastic to watch, truly.
- SPSpeaker
Yeah, it was, it was a great match, and I'm really, really happy that you enjoyed watching it, and, yeah, you had fun.
- 1:28 – 2:18
How Does It Feel To Win… Again?
- JSJay Shetty
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.
- SPSpeaker
Yeah.
- JSJay Shetty
Does it feel different from the first time? Does it feel the same? Like, what goes through your mind and heart?
- SPSpeaker
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-
- JSJay Shetty
Wow
- SPSpeaker
... it's, it's a big moment, and I feel, like, relieved after, after getting this, this beauty. [laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
[laughs] Absolutely. Thank you for bringing it here.
- SPSpeaker
Of course.
- JSJay Shetty
This is amazing.
- SPSpeaker
Of course.
- JSJay Shetty
I love having it here.
- SPSpeaker
What do you mean? [laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
This is the first trophy ever on On Purpose, so this is a, a special moment for us.
- SPSpeaker
Happy to be the first one. [laughs]
- 2:18 – 3:54
Toughest Moments Up to This Point
- JSJay Shetty
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?
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
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.
- SPSpeaker
It hurts.
- JSJay Shetty
It's so much more painful. It hurts so deeply.
- SPSpeaker
It hurts.
- JSJay Shetty
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?
- SPSpeaker
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.
- 3:54 – 5:52
Lessons Learned From Defeat
- JSJay Shetty
How long before you can watch the game back when you've lost?
- SPSpeaker
I have to be honest, I, I never watched my, like-
- JSJay Shetty
Wow
- SPSpeaker
... 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...
- JSJay Shetty
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-
- SPSpeaker
Yeah
- JSJay Shetty
... if you watch something closely enough, you almost, like, you keep pushing the wound. It's like you keep pressing on that-
- SPSpeaker
Yes, yes
- JSJay Shetty
... scar, if that makes sense.
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah.
- SPSpeaker
[laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
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-
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
Nice. Yeah,
- 5:52 – 7:54
Preparing for the Pressure
- JSJay Shetty
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.
- SPSpeaker
Yeah.
- JSJay Shetty
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.
- SPSpeaker
Yeah, two weeks.
- JSJay Shetty
Like, it's really intense. You're playing all these games, multiple sets, really challenging. Like, the pressure's all compressed-
- SPSpeaker
Yes
- JSJay Shetty
... 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.
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
Talk to
- 7:54 – 11:20
Inside the Mind of a Champion
- JSJay Shetty
us about that self-talk, because-
- SPSpeaker
Yeah
- JSJay Shetty
... I think we forget-
- SPSpeaker
Yeah
- JSJay Shetty
... that right now we're all so obsessed with the conversation online.
- SPSpeaker
Yeah. [laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
Like, we're looking at what Twitter's saying, X is saying. We're looking at what-
- SPSpeaker
Social medias
- JSJay Shetty
... even on social media.
- SPSpeaker
Yeah.
- JSJay Shetty
And then you forget-
- SPSpeaker
Yeah
- JSJay Shetty
... that the real conversation is happening inside the champion's head.
- SPSpeaker
Exactly, yeah.
- JSJay Shetty
Walk, walk us through what that conversation looks like. Like, what are the ups and downs? What are the shifts in that inner dialogue?
- SPSpeaker
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-
- JSJay Shetty
I agree
- SPSpeaker
... 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.
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah.
- SPSpeaker
It's tough, but, but I kinda, like, lo- love it. [laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah. [laughs] Yeah, you've, you've learned to enjoy it.
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah, that's beautiful. I- You reminded me of that famous quote that says, "What you resist persists."
- SPSpeaker
Yeah.
- JSJay Shetty
That idea that if you're trying to get rid of a thought or trying to get rid of a feeling-
- SPSpeaker
Exactly
- JSJay Shetty
... it just expands-
- SPSpeaker
Exactly
- JSJay Shetty
... and it takes up more space, and as soon as you accept it-
- SPSpeaker
Yeah
- 11:20 – 12:57
What is The Hardest Part of Being at the Top?
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah. What, what's the, what's the hardest thing about being a champion, about being number one, for you?
- SPSpeaker
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?
- JSJay Shetty
[laughs]
- SPSpeaker
Like, if you, like, if you won, like, a trophy, like, there is nothing to complain about.
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah. Yeah. I loved when you came out after you've won-
- SPSpeaker
[laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
... and you had the champagne bottle.
- SPSpeaker
[laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
You had the... I was like, I was like, "That sponsor must be really happy, Aryna," like [laughs]
- SPSpeaker
[laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
I was like, "That was, like, the best reaction ever."
- SPSpeaker
I should've came with the, with the tequila because it's sponsored by tequila. [laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
Oh, yeah. [laughs]
- SPSpeaker
Not with champagne. But, but you know, you gotta celebrate it, you gotta enjoy it because, you know, the hard work is done.
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah.
- SPSpeaker
NowIt's time to, you know, celebrate it.
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah, yeah.
- SPSpeaker
[laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
I was think- I was thinking about the moment, I don't know if you remember that-
- SPSpeaker
[laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
... uh, tournament where Ronaldo hid the Coca-Cola and he put the water up. Did you ever see that interview?
- SPSpeaker
No.
- JSJay Shetty
So this is a press conference a few years ago, and-
- SPSpeaker
Was it-
- JSJay Shetty
It was Cristiano Ronaldo, football player
- SPSpeaker
Okay
- JSJay Shetty
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."
- SPSpeaker
That's funny.
- JSJay Shetty
And Coca-Cola's stock price went down that day.
- SPSpeaker
[laughs]
- 12:57 – 19:10
The Importance of Celebration
- JSJay Shetty
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.
- SPSpeaker
Yes.
- JSJay Shetty
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?"
- SPSpeaker
[laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
So I feel like you gave everyone permission to say, "You know what? It's okay." What... Go-
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
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?
- SPSpeaker
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."
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah.
- SPSpeaker
"I'm proud to, to be able to handle, uh, have this trophy."
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah. I think it's important to have that inner celebration as well-
- SPSpeaker
Yeah
- JSJay Shetty
... because I love that you just said that, "I sit down and go, 'I'm proud to have this trophy.'"
- SPSpeaker
Yeah. [laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
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.
- SPSpeaker
Of course.
- JSJay Shetty
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.
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah. It's beautiful.
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
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- SPSpeaker
Yeah. [laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
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-
- SPSpeaker
The whole story
- JSJay Shetty
... 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?
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
[laughs]
- SPSpeaker
[laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
Is that where that playfulness comes from?
- SPSpeaker
Uh, yeah.
- 19:10 – 21:08
How Did You Find Tennis?
- SPSpeaker
yeah, yeah.
- JSJay Shetty
Walk me through that. How did he discover tennis? How did he introduce it to you?
- SPSpeaker
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?"
- JSJay Shetty
Wow.
- SPSpeaker
So I tried it and I loved it, and that's how it started.
- JSJay Shetty
That's crazy. I... Was, was he good at tennis? Did he play-
- SPSpeaker
No, no, no. He used to play ice hockey, but then he had a bike crash, so, uh-
- JSJay Shetty
Oh
- SPSpeaker
... he was afraid to come back in sport.
- JSJay Shetty
Oh, wow.
- SPSpeaker
So, yeah.
- JSJay Shetty
It was a quite bad injury that he-
- SPSpeaker
It was a very bad injury. He barely survived when he was 18 or 19.
- JSJay Shetty
Oh, gosh.
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
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.
- SPSpeaker
Yeah.
- JSJay Shetty
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?
- SPSpeaker
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,
- 21:08 – 24:12
What Inspires You?
- SPSpeaker
yeah.
- JSJay Shetty
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.
- SPSpeaker
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-
- JSJay Shetty
Totally
- SPSpeaker
... this life.
- JSJay Shetty
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.
- SPSpeaker
No, no, you didn't make me bad. I'm just saying, like-
- JSJay Shetty
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.
- SPSpeaker
Yeah.
- JSJay Shetty
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.
- SPSpeaker
Mm.
- JSJay Shetty
So I read David Beckham's autobiography when I was, like, 16, 17 years old, and then I read Steve Jobs' biography much later.
- SPSpeaker
Yeah.
- JSJay Shetty
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-
- SPSpeaker
Yeah
- JSJay Shetty
... 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.
- SPSpeaker
Yeah, yeah.
- JSJay Shetty
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."
- SPSpeaker
Yes.
- JSJay Shetty
You know? And so-
- SPSpeaker
It's tough
- JSJay Shetty
... it's kinda nice to not have that, actually, sometimes because you're free of the-
- SPSpeaker
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?
- JSJay Shetty
Well said. Yeah, absolutely. I feel like it's so... Because winning the trophy is 1% of your life.
- SPSpeaker
Yes.
- JSJay Shetty
The other 99% is what we don't see. We're just seeing the two weeks of the tournaments or whatever it may be.
- SPSpeaker
But it's the whole life, you know?
- JSJay Shetty
It's the waking up, it's the-
- SPSpeaker
Yeah.
- 24:12 – 28:15
A Champion’s Morning Routine
- JSJay Shetty
Walk me through your morning routine. Like, what does your routine look like? How do you set yourself up?
- SPSpeaker
During the tournament?
- JSJay Shetty
Do me a game day and a non-game day.
- SPSpeaker
Well, the game day depends on the match, once again, but I like to sleep in.
- JSJay Shetty
[laughs]
- SPSpeaker
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]
- JSJay Shetty
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?
- SPSpeaker
I work with a sports psychologist for, um, four or five years.
- JSJay Shetty
Wow.
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah.
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
I think that's the right process, though, with anything. I feel like it's learn-
- SPSpeaker
Learn, yeah
- JSJay Shetty
... 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-
- SPSpeaker
Yeah
- JSJay Shetty
... 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.
- SPSpeaker
True.
- JSJay Shetty
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-
- SPSpeaker
Yeah
- JSJay Shetty
... the whole time, and then-
- SPSpeaker
Yeah
- JSJay Shetty
... you just keep holding tighter and tighter and tighter.
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah. How would the people that know you, beyond tennis, personally, deeply, intimately, how would they describe you? What would they say about you?
- SPSpeaker
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-
- JSJay Shetty
[laughs]
- SPSpeaker
... 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]
- JSJay Shetty
That's what, that's what... Yeah, we'll have to check with her.
- SPSpeaker
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]
- 28:15 – 29:16
Balancing Work and Personal Life
- JSJay Shetty
a few people. How much does your life off the court, in your personal life, impact your life on the court?
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah. I feel, I feel tennis has done
- 29:16 – 31:32
Fighting for Equality in Sports
- JSJay Shetty
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?
- SPSpeaker
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-
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah, yeah
- SPSpeaker
... men, men meant to be, uh, stronger than women.So-
- JSJay Shetty
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.
- SPSpeaker
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]
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah.
- SPSpeaker
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-
- JSJay Shetty
Absolutely
- SPSpeaker
... 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.
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah, yeah. I, I think it's been brilliant. I think the sport's done a great job at trying to-
- SPSpeaker
Yeah
- JSJay Shetty
... move in the right direction-
- SPSpeaker
Push it. Push it. Yeah
- JSJay Shetty
... for a long time. And Billie Jean King, as you said-
- SPSpeaker
Yeah
- JSJay Shetty
... has been such a reason for that. It's been amazing.
- SPSpeaker
Yeah.
- JSJay Shetty
So it's incredible. Talk to us about the fashion, because-
- 31:32 – 33:11
The Role of Fashion in Confidence
- SPSpeaker
[laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
... your... Uh, well, as soon as you put your, like, outfit on that day, and you put the silver jacket on, and like-
- SPSpeaker
[laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
... I was like, Aryna's, like, going for it. Like, how much, how much fun do you get to have with all of that?
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah, yeah. You see it in sports, like I feel like basketball especially in America.
- SPSpeaker
Yeah.
- JSJay Shetty
Like all the basketball players are very fashionable. Like, it, it kinda creates... It brings sports and culture together quite a lot.
- SPSpeaker
Yes.
- JSJay Shetty
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?
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah.
- SPSpeaker
That's my, that's my weakness.
- JSJay Shetty
Is it? [laughs]
- SPSpeaker
Yes.
- JSJay Shetty
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-
- SPSpeaker
Yes
- JSJay Shetty
... AP. It went on straight after the game. [laughs]
- SPSpeaker
You know. Gotta take care of, uh, the fashion stuff-
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah
- SPSpeaker
... of the game. [laughs] Fashion part of the game.
- JSJay Shetty
I love it. Well, you're, well, you're crushing it. You're crushing it. When
- 33:11 – 37:34
Turning Grief Into Strength
- JSJay Shetty
I-
- SPSpeaker
Thank you. [laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
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.
- SPSpeaker
Yeah.
- JSJay Shetty
Walk us through that moment in time.
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
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-
- SPSpeaker
Yeah
- JSJay Shetty
... no perfect way to grieve, but what, what worked for you? What, what did you have to do in order to process that?
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
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-
- SPSpeaker
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]
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah, yeah, yeah. You were trying to, like, channel it all into-
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
Mm. That's so beautiful. Thank you for sharing that.
- SPSpeaker
Thank you.
- JSJay Shetty
It's so beautiful to hear about... My, my wife recently lost her grandmother, and I always say to people that-
- SPSpeaker
Oh, I'm so sorry
- JSJay Shetty
... uh-
- SPSpeaker
It's tough
- JSJay Shetty
... 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.
- SPSpeaker
That connection.
- JSJay Shetty
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,
- 37:34 – 39:31
How Do You Define Love?
- JSJay Shetty
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.
- SPSpeaker
[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.
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah, it's a feeling.
- SPSpeaker
How would you describe?
- JSJay Shetty
[sighs]
- SPSpeaker
You know? Right?
- JSJay Shetty
It's-
- SPSpeaker
Like, how, how can...
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah.
- SPSpeaker
Yeah.
- JSJay Shetty
Love to me is when someone accepts you for who you are and you accept them for who they are.
- SPSpeaker
And not changing you, right.
- JSJay Shetty
And you're not trying to change them.
- SPSpeaker
Exactly.
- JSJay Shetty
I feel like the biggest mistake-
- SPSpeaker
Agree
- JSJay Shetty
... 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-
- SPSpeaker
It's very-
- JSJay Shetty
... it's, when I'm willing to accept-
- SPSpeaker
... well said
- JSJay Shetty
... yeah, when I'm willing to accept and be with you and sit with you and understand you.
- SPSpeaker
Yeah.
- JSJay Shetty
I'm, I'm trying to be more curious than I am judgmental-
- SPSpeaker
Exactly
- JSJay Shetty
... because I'm trying to understand why you are the way you are and-
- SPSpeaker
I love that
- JSJay Shetty
... what made you this way and...
- SPSpeaker
I totally agree.
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah, 'cause it's... 'Cause I feel like it's, it's so easy in any relationship. This isn't just romantic.
- SPSpeaker
Mm.
- 39:31 – 41:00
Why Discipline Defines Success
- JSJay Shetty
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...
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
Mm.
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
That's a great definition of success. I love that.
- SPSpeaker
[laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
That's such a great answer. Success is actually showing up-
- SPSpeaker
Yeah
- JSJay Shetty
... even when you don't want to.
- SPSpeaker
Yeah.
- JSJay Shetty
When you don't feel like it.
- SPSpeaker
Yeah.
- JSJay Shetty
That's really what it is.
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
I love what you're
- 41:00 – 43:30
Have You Ever Wanted to Give Up?
- JSJay Shetty
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.
- SPSpeaker
Mm-hmm.
- JSJay Shetty
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.
- SPSpeaker
Yeah.
- JSJay Shetty
Does that make sense? Like-
- SPSpeaker
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?
- JSJay Shetty
Mm.
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah.
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah.
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
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"?
- SPSpeaker
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?
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- SPSpeaker
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.
- 43:30 – 45:19
The Purpose of Hard Challenges
- JSJay Shetty
I feel like that's always the case, where it's like you love something-
- SPSpeaker
Yeah
- JSJay Shetty
... something about it's not working, you're struggling, you're not getting it right.
- SPSpeaker
Yeah.
- JSJay Shetty
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?
- SPSpeaker
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?
- JSJay Shetty
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.
- SPSpeaker
Yeah.
- JSJay Shetty
Like, I love that you just said, like, "I've been just showing up since I was a little kid."
- SPSpeaker
Yeah.
- JSJay Shetty
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-
- SPSpeaker
Yeah
- JSJay Shetty
... 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.
- SPSpeaker
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.
- 45:19 – 47:26
Unique Rituals and Habits
- JSJay Shetty
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?
- SPSpeaker
Uh, well, I have the same breakfast-
- JSJay Shetty
Oh, you do?
- SPSpeaker
... throughout the tournament. That's my, you know?
- JSJay Shetty
What is your go-to breakfast?
- SPSpeaker
Oh, I love avocado toast.
- JSJay Shetty
Okay.
- SPSpeaker
With, uh, with two fried eggs from both sides. [laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
[laughs]
- SPSpeaker
Over easy. It has to be perfect. [laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
[laughs]
- SPSpeaker
I gave so much trouble to some of the places with these eggs. [laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
'Cause it has to be perfect.
- SPSpeaker
It has to be perfect. I don't know. I'm, maybe I'm crazy. And the smoked salmon on the side.
- JSJay Shetty
Okay.
- SPSpeaker
That's my go-to.
- JSJay Shetty
That's your go-to breakfast.
- SPSpeaker
I love this breakfast. I always come back to this one.
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah, yeah. Very specific.
- SPSpeaker
Yes. [laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah, it's good.
- SPSpeaker
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-
- JSJay Shetty
[laughs]
- SPSpeaker
How I show the right. I mean, left corner.
- JSJay Shetty
[laughs]
- SPSpeaker
[laughs] I will keep, like, picking up the balls from, from that kid.
- JSJay Shetty
Got it.
- SPSpeaker
I don't know why. It just, like, gives me, uh, give me, I don't know, a good feeling. [laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. We... I, I feel like we all have these little things that-
- SPSpeaker
Little things
- 47:26 – 49:21
Who is Your Toughest Opponent?
- JSJay Shetty
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?"
- SPSpeaker
Whom did he say?
- JSJay Shetty
He said himself.
- SPSpeaker
Himself? [laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
It's a good answer, right? [laughs]
- SPSpeaker
It's a good answer.
- JSJay Shetty
I'll cut that out. You can say it as well.
- SPSpeaker
Well, yeah, myself. [laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
[laughs]
- SPSpeaker
Thanks, Novak. [laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah. [laughs]
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
[laughs]
- SPSpeaker
You're the biggest, biggest opponent.
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah, you're always, you're your biggest mental competitor, yeah.
- SPSpeaker
Yes.
- JSJay Shetty
'Cause you're the one pushing yourself the hardest.
- SPSpeaker
Exactly.
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah.
- SPSpeaker
Exactly.
- JSJay Shetty
For sure. It's a good answer.
- SPSpeaker
[laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
What about your toughest opponent physically?
- SPSpeaker
Coco, um, Iga. Yeah, these two, like, I think physically, um, brings the biggest challenge.
- JSJay Shetty
In, in what sense?
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
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-
- SPSpeaker
Oh, that's the best thing
- JSJay Shetty
... feeling excited about your journey. Like, how does that feel?
- SPSpeaker
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
- 49:21 – 55:19
The Power of Having the Right People by Your Side
- SPSpeaker
matters in life.
- JSJay Shetty
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?
- SPSpeaker
Surround yourself with the right people. That's the main thing, because with the right people, you can achieve anything.
- JSJay Shetty
Mm. That's good advice.
- SPSpeaker
[laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
Is it, did it take you time to find the right people to surround yourself with? Like, is that, is that hard?
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah, it does. I, I feel like that's true in, again, in business, in sports, in everything. Finding the right team-
- SPSpeaker
You go through tough-
- JSJay Shetty
... is everything.
- SPSpeaker
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]
- JSJay Shetty
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.
- SPSpeaker
Mm.
- JSJay Shetty
And it was really interesting. She said to me once, this was years ago, this was, like, maybe six years ago now.
- SPSpeaker
Mm-hmm.
- JSJay Shetty
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."
- SPSpeaker
Mm.
- JSJay Shetty
Like, my relationship with my wife-
- SPSpeaker
Yeah
- JSJay Shetty
... 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-
- SPSpeaker
Mm-hmm
- JSJay Shetty
... world. And so I was just trying to surround myself with people who were smart, who knew what they were doing.
- SPSpeaker
Mm.
- JSJay Shetty
But they weren't necessarily on the same energy and vibrancy-
- SPSpeaker
Mm
- JSJay Shetty
... if that makes sense.
- SPSpeaker
Yeah, yeah.
- JSJay Shetty
Does that make sense? Like-
- SPSpeaker
Yeah
- JSJay Shetty
... you've had to find people on the same frequency.
- 55:19 – 56:25
Favorite Sports Beyond Tennis
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah.
- SPSpeaker
Um-
- JSJay Shetty
What... Are there any sports that you watch, that you love, that you follow?
- SPSpeaker
I love, uh, basketball. I love, um, ice hockey. But it's not like I really have-
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah
- SPSpeaker
... like one team.
- JSJay Shetty
Okay.
- SPSpeaker
One team that I support. I just love to watch.
- JSJay Shetty
Mm.
- SPSpeaker
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."
- JSJay Shetty
[laughs]
- SPSpeaker
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?
- JSJay Shetty
[laughs]
- SPSpeaker
Because I just watch the, their, like, movement and it's, it's crazy. It's crazy what those guys do.
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah, you're watching a different game because you're looking at the physicality-
- SPSpeaker
Yeah, I look at different things probably
- JSJay Shetty
... and their movement. Yeah.
- SPSpeaker
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-
- JSJay Shetty
Those races-
- SPSpeaker
... corner after corner. Cor- like, it's crazy.
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah, and it's repetitive as well. It's like-
- SPSpeaker
Yeah, you know, it's, um, crazy
- JSJay Shetty
... just doing the same thing. Yeah.
- SPSpeaker
That's what, that's what, what actually crazy.
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah, yeah. No, and
- 56:25 – 58:45
Mastering Your Time
- JSJay Shetty
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?
- SPSpeaker
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?
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah.
- SPSpeaker
So the plan is for the next couple of days-
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah
- SPSpeaker
... enjoy it. [laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
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-
- SPSpeaker
No, no, no, no. I'm like, I have this control.
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah.
- SPSpeaker
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-"
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah, we gotta do it
- SPSpeaker
... "we gotta enjoy."
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah, we gotta do it.
- SPSpeaker
[laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
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]
- SPSpeaker
[laughs] It wouldn't be me without, uh, joking.
- JSJay Shetty
Some, some little... Yeah.
- SPSpeaker
Some little, you know? [laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
Little, eh.
- SPSpeaker
Don't forget. [laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
Some little spice. Some little-
- SPSpeaker
I mean, that's who I am, you know? [laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
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-
- SPSpeaker
And also mentally to be healthy, right?
- JSJay Shetty
Absolutely.
- SPSpeaker
It's important to balance this hard work with a little joy.
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah, you only
- 58:45 – 59:39
The Value of Rest and Recovery
- JSJay Shetty
come back sharper.
- SPSpeaker
Exactly.
- JSJay Shetty
Have you found that as well? Has that been a big part of your recovery-
- SPSpeaker
Yes
- JSJay Shetty
... 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.
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
Mm,
- 59:39 – 1:02:43
Battle of the Sexes
- JSJay Shetty
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-
- SPSpeaker
No, I think it is, it's been done, like, long, long time ago.
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah, Billie Jean King.
- SPSpeaker
Like, yeah.
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah, like-
- SPSpeaker
Like, really long
- JSJay Shetty
... years ago. Yeah
- SPSpeaker
When was that? When was the year?
- SPSpeaker
The '70s.
- JSJay Shetty
The '70s, yeah.
- SPSpeaker
Wow.
- JSJay Shetty
Great game.
- SPSpeaker
It's been, it's been a while, right? [laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
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.
- SPSpeaker
We're bringing it back.
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah, it's... Yeah, you're bringing it back.
- SPSpeaker
[laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
What, what inspired this?
- SPSpeaker
Well, uh, yeah, since we're fighting for equal prize money, I believe, uh, uh, that's, that's the reason, no? [laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
[laughs]
- SPSpeaker
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?
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah, yeah. You can-
- SPSpeaker
Kick his ass, right?
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah.
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
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
- SPSpeaker
Well, Nick, you gotta be ready. You better be ready, and, um, yeah, I'm gonna, I'm gonna kick your ass, man.
- JSJay Shetty
[laughs] I love it. I love it
- SPSpeaker
[laughs] I think the ATP gonna cancel the battle
- JSJay Shetty
[laughs]
- 1:02:43 – 1:12:52
Aryna on Final Five
- JSJay Shetty
that. We end every episode with a Final Five.
- SPSpeaker
Mm-hmm.
- JSJay Shetty
So these have to be answered in one word to one sentence maximum.
- SPSpeaker
Okay.
- JSJay Shetty
But I always, I always go away from that, so-
- SPSpeaker
[laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
... don't worry about it.
- SPSpeaker
Okay. Let's see. [laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
Uh, uh, Aryna Sabalenka, these are your Final Five. The first question is, what is the best advice you've ever had or received?
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
Who said that to you?
- SPSpeaker
My father.
- JSJay Shetty
That's awesome.
- SPSpeaker
[laughs]
- JSJay Shetty
How old were you when he first said that to you?
- SPSpeaker
He said it to me when I was 17, I think.
- JSJay Shetty
Okay.
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah. How long before you feel you really took it to heart and really understood it?
- SPSpeaker
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?
- JSJay Shetty
Mm-hmm.
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
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.
- SPSpeaker
It's more in my heart.
- JSJay Shetty
Yeah.
- SPSpeaker
It's more in my heart. Uh, when he passed away, I had, um, audios from him.
- JSJay Shetty
Mm-hmm.
- SPSpeaker
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.
- JSJay Shetty
That's beautiful. Uh, question number two, what is the worst advice you've ever had or received?
- SPSpeaker
You know, like, bad things never stay in my head, so.
Episode duration: 1:12:53
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