Aryna Sabalenka makes surprising revelation about retirement and having kids ahead of Australian Open

Aryna Sabalenka recently addressed her potential retirement and plan to have kids. The World No. 1 is presently in Melbourne to contest the 2025 Australian Open as the two-time defending champion.

Sabalenka scripted a monumental 2024 campaign that propelled her to a maiden year-end World No. 1 finish. During her run, she won two Grand Slams (the Australian Open and the US Open) and two WTA 1000 titles in Cincinnati and Wuhan.

Aryna Sabalenka is now back like she never left, starting her 2025 season with a title at the Brisbane International. Ahead of her title defense at the Australian Open, though, the player was struck with the realization that she turns 27 in May this year. During her car ride to Melbourne Park, Sabalenka said:

"Oh my god, I’m 27 this year. I played an exhibition with Mirra Andreeva and I’m nine years older than her."

Surprisingly bringing up the subject of retirement, Aryna Sabalenka said:

"Being a professional athlete, I’m kind of getting really close to my retirement, can you believe that? 27. People retire at like 30."

"I don’t know. It’s a tough question," she added when discussing her retirement plan.

Although the 26-year-old refrained from sharing a definitive timeline, she vocalized her desire to hit pause and have children before returning to the tour.

"I hope I’ll have family; I’ll have kids – I want to have kids. I don’t want to have my first kid at 35, you know," she said.

"The way I see it I really want to have a kid and then comeback and I want my kid to see how hard you should work in life to get things. So, yeah, I don’t know," Aryna Sabalenka added.

The three-time Grand Slam champion, however, assured that she’s “not done yet.”

"Now I am so into this sport and I think I’m not done yet. I am excited to be back (in Melbourne)," she said.

---

Aryna Sabalenka draws tough opponent in Australian Open 1R

Sabalenka pictured at the 2025 Australian Open - Image Source: Getty

On the tennis front, Aryna Sabalenka is all set to begin her bid for a third Australian Open on Sunday, January 12. The World No. 1 is placed against a tricky opponent in fellow Grand Slam champion Sloane Stephens.

Stephens’ Grand Slam highlights include winning the 2017 US Open, reaching the 2018 French Open final, and making the semifinals and quarterfinals of the Australian Open (2013) and Wimbledon (2013), respectively.

Despite the American’s glittering career, though, Sabalenka holds a firm 4-0 lead in their rivalry, with their most recent encounter coming at the 2023 French Open.