"Time goes by but the pain is still the same" - Aryna Sabalenka pays tribute to her late father on his 47th birthday

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has paid tribute to her late father on what would have been his 47th birthday if he were alive.

Sabalenka, the daughter of Sergey and Yuliya Sabalenka, stumbled on her passion for tennis at the age of six in a stroke of serendipity when her father accidentally took her to a tennis court.

The Belarusian's father was an ice hockey player. He died tragically in 2019 at the age of 43, causing her great grief.

On Sept.13, 2023, Aryna Sabalenka took to her Instagram stories to remember her father on his 47th birthday. She wrote that even as time passes; the pain remains the same.

"Time goes by, but the pain is still the same! I miss you papa. It would have been your 47th birthday," Sabalenka wrote. (Translated from Belarusian)

Aryna Sabalenka via Instagram stories.

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Aryna Sabalenka fulfilled her father's wish by becoming the World No.1

Aryna Sabalenka pictured with her US Open trophy

Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the final of the 2023 US Open, where she lost to home-favorite Coco Gauff on Saturday (September 9).

The Belarusian gave it her all, winning the first set, but Gauff made an incredible comeback to win the title, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Sabalenka, though, surpassed Iga Swiatek to become the World No. 1 WTA player due to her run in New York. She's the 29th woman to top the WTA rankings and win the Chris Evert Trophy.

The 25-year-old revealed in 2020 that her father's death came as a surprise to her, as he died at a young age, something she did not want people to know initially.

"It was something unexpected. He was young. He was 43, and I didn’t want to say that, but I think people should know," she said during the Adelaide International in 2020.

The 2023 Australian Open champion added how difficult it was for her to focus on practice after the tragic incident. She hated leaving her family behind for matches when they needed her the most.

"During the pre-season, it was tough to practice mentally. I didn’t think too much actually. I couldn’t leave, because I knew it was a tough situation with my family, and I couldn’t leave them but somehow I needed to go. I wasn’t excited about the matches. I just went there because I have to," Sabalenka said.

However, her father's desire to see her become the World No. 1 was eventually accomplished in 2023, which was what kept Sabalenka going.

"I’m just trying to fight because my dad wanted me to be No. 1. I’m doing it for him, so that’s what is helping me to be strong right now," Sabalenka said.