Aryna Sabalenka is on the brink of something extraordinary. With a third consecutive Australian Open title within reach—something no woman has achieved in 26 years—she’s chasing history at Melbourne Park. The World No.1 is poised to make her third appearance at the final at Rod Laver Arena today. But if you ask her coach, Anton Dubrov, this is just the beginning. The Belarusian star isn’t just setting records; she’s rewriting tennis history, and Dubrov is confident her tally of titles will go far beyond this moment.
Anton Dubrov, one of the youngest coaches on the WTA Tour, has been with Sabalenka through it all. From the highs of Grand Slam wins to the lows of early struggles, he’s witnessed every step of her meteoric rise. Dubrov initially joined her team as a hitting partner under the guidance of former coach Dmitry Tursunov. When Sabalenka and Tursunov parted ways in 2020, Dubrov stepped up, despite being just three years older than Sabalenka at that time.
Fast forward nearly four years, and the duo has achieved remarkable success together. With three Grand Slam titles and a reign as World No. 1, their partnership has flourished. Now, as Sabalenka stands on the verge of her fourth major, the coach does not believe we should stop the count just yet!
In an interview with the Australian Open, when asked about the World No.1’s historic three-peat record he said, “The only time we’re going to look [at] them is after she’s going to finish her career.”
The Belarusian coach also offered insight into how the final against Madison Keys might unfold. Comparing it to Sabalenka’s first Australian Open final against Elena Rybakina, he emphasized the importance of neutralizing Keys’ biggest strengths.
“It’s pretty similar to maybe the way Aryna played her first final against [Elena] Rybakina because Madison serve[s] really well, the first shot she can accelerate really fast,” he explained. “It’s more about how you can take away from her these first two shots and take this control.” The young coach added that return games will be pivotal. “It’s just who is going to try to dominate to find this right amount of the power so they can control it, not over-hit it, because it’s going to be fast,” Dubrov said.
If Aryna Sabalenka lifts the trophy, she’ll join an elite list of tennis legends who have won three consecutive Australian Open titles: Margaret Court (1969–1971), Evonne Goolagong Cawley (1974–1976), Monica Seles (1991–1993), and Steffi Graf (1988–1990). The last to achieve this feat was Martina Hingis, who ruled Melbourne Park from 1997 to 1999.
What does the 26-year-old tennis star have to say about this?
Aryna Sabalenka beams with pride at potential historic record
Aryna Sabalenka’s path to the final has been nothing short of dominant. Her semifinal victory over Paula Badosa marked her 20th consecutive win at the Australian Open, solidifying her status as the queen of Melbourne Park.
Speaking during her on-court interview after the match, Sabalenka reflected on the potential three-peat milestone with pride.
“Just saying that I have goosebumps,” she admitted. “I am so proud of myself and my team that we were able to put ourselves in such a situation. It’s a privilege and if I will be able to put my name in the history [books] it’s going to mean the world to me. At first, I was dreaming to win at least one Grand Slam, and now I have this opportunity, and it’s incredible.”
To achieve this historic feat, Sabalenka will need to overcome Madison Keys in Saturday’s final. The American has been in formidable form this season, and the clash promises to be a thrilling test of power, precision, and mental fortitude.
Will Aryna Sabalenka’s unstoppable run continue, or will Keys spoil her dream of a three-peat? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
The post Australian Open: No Stopping Aryna Sabalenka as Coach Displays Confidence with a Defiant Statement About Her Career appeared first on EssentiallySports.
