Podcast 338: Defending US Open Champion Aryna Sabalenka’s Guide to Training Your Mind and Body to Win

On this episode of the WHOOP Podcast, WHOOP Founder and CEO Will Ahmed sits down with World #1 tennis player Aryna Sabalenka. Aryna opens up about her journey from first picking up a racket at six years old to becoming the top-ranked player in the world.

Aryna shares an inside look at her training, recovery, and how WHOOP helps stay on top of her game. She discusses balancing fun with competitiveness, the lessons she’s learned from setbacks, and her strategies for staying resilient under pressure.

Looking ahead to the US Open, Aryna shares what the tournament means to her personally and how she’s preparing to defend her title. Aryna reflects on her game and shares her advice to young athletes chasing their dreams.

Chapter Episodes

0:58 - Building a career in tennis

3:36 - The road to becoming World #1

6:50 - Keeping things light-hearted

7:38 - How Aryna views herself and her game

9:03 - Aryna’s training and WHOOP data

17:41 - Having a red Recovery going into the US Open final

20:39 - Travel tips for peak performance

21:43 - Aryna’s definition of success

26:27 - Looking ahead to The US Open

27:50 - Reflecting on past competitions

30:46 - The differences in men's and women's tennis

31:53 - The secret to maintaining a positive mindset

34:20 - Rapid fire questions

37:04 - Build the best tennis player

38:17 - Aryna’s lowest Recovery Score