Like any other sport, tennis requires unwavering concentration, clarity of thought, and calm nerves before a match. We often see a player walking out to the court and training sessions with their headphones on. Is bringing a bit of calmness the main motive behind this? Well, music is a mood enhancer as it stimulates the release of dopamine, which creates a positive mindset. According to Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka, wearing headphones while entering the court helps her “dull” her “social anxiety.” Coco Gauff believes, “If you’re feeling a little bit low in energy, you can play some pumped up song and it gets you in the mood for a match and it also helps me relax before matches, too.” We often see Aryna Sabalenka also putting on her headphones before a match. Does she have a specific list of songs that she likes to hear before a match?
The synergy of music and tennis was seen even during John McEnroe’s days. Once, when asked about what music he usually likes to listen to before entering the court, the American tennis legend said, “There was never any one song, but my favorite band as a kid growing up was Led Zeppelin.” Three days ago, Aryna Sabalenka shared a video clip in which she was spotted wearing a headphone while entering the court. She captioned that post with, “Hola clay courts & @mutuamadridopen .”
Highlighting that post in her recent interview with Tennis Channel, Prakash Amritraj quizzed her regarding what usually plays in her headphone before a match these days. In reply to this question, the Belarusian said, “It’s always different. It depends on the mood, honestly, I cannot say what’s playing. Sometimes I just like to put them without the music, just to have this quiet space. Sometimes, there is like Teddy Swims, sometimes there is like The Weeknd, sometimes it’s like…it’s a mix, honestly.“
In May 2024, Sabalenka shared a picture of herself on her IG account with the caption, “Currently listening to… pre-match edition .” What were the songs in her playlist at that time? Well, it included Lose Control (Teddy Swims), You & Me -Rivo Remix, Addicted (Zerb, The Chainsmokers, INK), Out of Touch (Daryl Hall & John Oates, Avangart Tabldot), Believer (Imagine Dragons), Kisses Back (Anthony Keyrouz), and a few others.
Talking about her love for songs, during the 2024 AO, she was also spotted dancing to the tunes of American rapper and singer Pitbull’s song Fireball. Sabalenka loves dancing to her favorite tunes! Last year, she even discovered a “new theme song” for herself while enjoying the tune during a drive with her boyfriend, Georgios Frangulis. She even advertised the tune by djKDS, fittingly called ‘Tiger‘ in honor of Sabalenka’s two tattoos of the predator.
Now, switching back to the tennis courts in the Spanish capital. Well, even here, the world number one is currently on a song. She has already clinched two wins, and now she’s pushing for three out of three.
Aryna Sabalenka created a historic feat with her recent win over Belgium’s Elise Mertens
Despite a bit of scare in the initial phase of this match, Aryna Sabalenka secured a 3-6,6-2,6-1 victory over the Belgian. With this incredible fightback, the two-time champion (2021,2023) in Madrid has now become the third active WTA Player to win ten matches against the same opponent. She had in fact won 14 consecutive sets against Elise Mertens before losing the first set in this Madrid encounter. Sabalenka now has a win-loss record of 10-2 over Mertens.
Interesting Fact: Iga Swiatek has a record of 11-3 over America’s Coco Gauff, while the other player is Madison Keys, who has won 10 matches out of her 12 meetings with Daria Kasatkina.
What did Aryna Sabalenka say, though, after this win? “I was trying to find the rhythm on my serve. The moment I started focusing on the timing, on not rushing the ball, on not overhitting, things really clicked.“ Talking about her success on clay in big events, well, she has never gone past the SF at the French Open. She was defeated in the QF last year by Russia’s Mirra Andreeva. So, she’ll be keen to get some wins under her belt before taking her flight to Paris.
Next up for her is America’s Peyton Stearns! Sabalenka currently has a 1-0 record over the American. Can she win this match and book her place in the QF of the 2025 Madrid Open? Share your thoughts in the comment box.
The post “Just to Have the Quiet Space,” Aryna Sabalenka Namedrops “The Weeknd” as She Raves About Her Pre-Match Music Mantra appeared first on EssentiallySports.
