Aryna Sabalenka has been climbing the WTA ladder like a storm—breaking barriers, collecting titles, and etching her name into elite company. She turned pro in 2015, but it took her almost eight years to finally taste success at the major stages. Now, she not only has four Grand Slam titles in her bag, but she is also the world number one. But even as she stands shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the greats of the game, the Belarusian powerhouse knows when to pause and pay respect.

This year, Sabalenka has been in red-hot form. She has a win-loss record of 58-10 this season. Although she missed out on winning the titles at the AO, French Open, and Wimbledon by a very close margin, the Belarusian superstar did manage to beat Amanda Anisimova in the final of the 2025 US Open by 6-3, 7-6(3). With that win, she became the first woman to defend her US Open title since Serena Williams (in 2013-14). Now, with her impressive 6-3, 6-2 win over Liudmila Samsonova in the R16 of the Wuhan Open, she has yet again put her name beside Williams.

That incredible victory in the fourth round has now helped Aryna Sabalenka reach her 30th QF in WTA 1000 events, equalling Serena Williams for the sixth-most since the format was introduced in 2009. It’s a record that speaks volumes about her consistency and dominance in the upper echelons of women’s tennis. But despite equalling one of Serena’s many astonishing benchmarks, Sabalenka isn’t ready to put herself in the same conversation as the American legend just yet when it comes to one particular stat.

In a recent interview at the Wuhan Open, Sabalenka shed light on matching the 23-Grand Slam title record of Serena Williams. She said, “All of us want to beat all the records. I think it’s so obvious. I think the right thing to do is focus on yourself, on your game, on developing yourself as the player and the person, and if you deserve these big titles, if you deserve to beat some records, you will.” Sabalenka further added, “So my focus is on developing myself as a player. And of course, I want to, but it’s going to be really tough to compete with the Grand Slam titles that Serena has. I guess for me, the goal is to go as far as I can in this sport, and I do my best every day. I dedicate my life to the sport.”

It’s a humble acknowledgment from one of the fiercest competitors on Tour. While Sabalenka has firmly established herself as the dominant force of this era, her respect for Serena’s unparalleled legacy shows her awareness of what true greatness represents.

Since 2023, Aryna Sabalenka has made seven Grand Slam finals but won only four out of them. Although she is one of the most decorated tennis players in the current era, Sabalenka is still 19 Slams away from matching Serena Williams’ record of 23. Can the 27-year-old Belarusian close the gap with the American star by clinching a few more major titles in the upcoming years? Time will tell! But how does she look at her comparison with someone like Williams in terms of playing style?

Aryna Sabalenka shares her thoughts on being dubbed as the next Serena Williams

Aryna Sabalenka has time and again claimed that she always wanted to dominate the Tour like Serena Williams did or the way Iga Swiatek was able to do for so long. She believes she has all the tools to dominate the Tour as they did. But talking about tools, her most lethal weapon is her power play, quite similar to Williams’.

Seeing her playing style, there were times in her childhood days when she used to get compared with someone like Williams. Recalling those moments in a previous interview with Boardroom, Sabalenka said, “Of course, I want to dominate the way Serena was dominating the tour. But growing up, I didn’t have any idols. I don’t know if it’s good or bad because everyone was inspired by someone, and I want to be an inspiration for the next generation. I think that’s the goal in life.” Instead, she claimed that she was too obsessed with improving her own game.

She has faced Serena Williams only once in her career. Williams had won that R16 match at the 2021 AO by 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. After securing her spot in the QF, the American shared her thoughts about the match. She said, “It was definitely a lot of power. I think, if anything, it was definitely power, but I'm used to it in practice. I know how to get them. I was okay with it really. If she wants to play power, let's go.”

This stylistic connection between Sabalenka and Serena made this first and only match between them an intriguing generational battle. But who plays a more powerful brand of tennis in between these two? In June 2025, Aryna Sabalenka raised her hand, saying, “I don’t think I’ve ever played someone who is more powerful than me.” 

Talking about her only meeting with Williams, Sabalenka said, “I think that she wasn’t really more powerful than me in that match. But physically, she was better than me, and she put more balls back on my side than I did. I didn’t really feel like she overpowered me in that game.” 

Umm, that’s quite a bold roar from the ‘Tigress.’ But now, as the 2025 season draws towards its finale, Sabalenka’s climb shows no signs of slowing. Just as we talk, she has now also defeated Elena Rybakina in the QF of the Wuhan Open by 6-3, 6-3. Time will tell if she can add yet another feather to her cap by defending her title this year or not. 

But when it comes to reaching Serena’s summit, Aryna Sabalenka has already proven herself as the defining player of her generation—fierce, honest, and unafraid to bow down to the biggest stars of the game. How many Grand Slam titles do you think Sabalenka will end her career with? 

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallySports. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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Edited by

Shrabana Sengupta