Grief, Grit & Grand Slams:What Aryna Sabalenka Taught Me
A story about remembering who you are—even when it hurts. And how it’s not just talent or training—it’s the inner game that wins.🎾🌿
This week, I want to share a story that touched me and that might just spark something inside you.
How to stay mentally strong and emotionally grounded
—no matter what life throws at you.
Yes, it’s about tennis—but more than that, it’s about resilience, grief, and staying connected to your dreams when everything in you wants to give up. It’s about Aryna Sabalenka, now the world’s number one, who nearly walked away from it all after losing her father and facing public hate during the war in her homeland. But instead of quitting, she remembered her dream—and kept going.
Continue reading (4 min).
I’m the mother of two boys and the wife of not only an excellent coach and father, but also a true tennis enthusiast—whose grandmother, by the way, was the first woman to appear at Wimbledon wearing shorts and Tyrolean socks. A rebel in style, long before her time.
Most of my weekdays, you’ll find me on the yoga mat, in the kitchen, or in front of the computer—teaching and coaching others how to live a mindful, holistic, healthy life rooted in Ayurvedic principles and yogic teachings.
My weekends? Either watching Break Point (the tennis documentary) or Drive to Survive (yes, the one about the best race car drivers)—or driving to the tennis court, watching my kids and husband play. Okay… truth be told, I’m often walking around the court and using that time to chat with my friends 😄.
Recently, I even picked up paddle myself—just to keep up with the boys. You can imagine how I look on the court as an ex-ballerina who was never allowed to play any other sports. I know… quite funny. But it’s getting better! And honestly, it’s fun to do something I’m not good at. Something I have to learn from scratch.
Last night, we watched an episode of Break Point where the world’s top 10 male and female tennis players meet at the final games of the year—the WTA and ATP Finals. The filmmakers follow them through match after match, exploring what they go through—physically, mentally, emotionally. This episode was especially moving. It featured Aryna Sabalenka, now the world’s number one female tennis player.
At the time of filming, she was 24. Her father had recently passed away. The war in Ukraine had just broken out. And although she is from Belarus—not Russia—she received hate messages and DMs from all over the world… simply because of where she was from. She also had to be extremely careful with her words. In her country, you can be killed for saying the wrong thing about the regime. Can you imagine that pressure?
Sabalenka’s season was falling apart. She couldn’t play. She broke down mentally and emotionally. And she wanted to give up. But then… she remembered her dream. She and her father had worked toward a single, clear vision: she would win two Grand Slams before the age of 25. With tears in her eyes, Aryna looked into the camera and said,
“In the moment I wanted to give up, I thought of my father. If he were still alive, what would he say to me?”
She paused. Swallowed. Brushed a tear from her cheek. Then said:
“He would say, ‘You’re crazy. You simply cannot give up on your dream. Never.’”
And so… she didn’t.
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In that tournament, Aryna Sabalenka, beat Iga Świątek, the number one player in the world at the time. And now, two years later, she hasn’t just won two Grand Slams. She’s won three. She is officially number one.
And here’s the part that moves me not just as a mother, but as a yogi, a coach, and a teacher:
Every single documentary I watch—every behind-the-scenes portrait of the best athletes in the world—comes back to three key things:
1. Mental stability and focus
2. Physical fitness and health
3. A supportive team and family
All three matter. But the mental strength? The ability to stay calm, clear, and focused—even in chaos—is what makes the difference.
Physically, they’re all top-level.
They all train hard.
They all have coaches and teams and families backing them. Many even have whole nations behind them—like Ons Jabeur, the first Arab woman (Tunisia) to reach the Wimbledon final.
But what gives the best the edge?
It’s mindset. It’s emotional mastery.
It’s the ability to take pressure and turn it into power.
This is what makes Novak Djokovic nearly unbeatable—even when facing players 15 years younger.
It’s what made Iga Świątek dominate an entire season, winning match after match at just 21.
It’s what helped Carlos Alcaraz beat every seasoned champion and win the US Open at 19.
When asked before the final if he felt pressure, Carlos smiled into the camera, shook his head like it was a funny question, and said in Spanish:
“No siento presion.”
And what do Novak Djokovic and Iga Świątek have in common? 🎾🌿
They both practice yoga.
They meditate.
They breathe.
They use mindfulness.
Both are known for integrating Yoga, meditation, and mindfulness practices into their training routines. They prioritize mental strength, breath awareness, and emotional balance—not just physical performance. It’s this inner discipline that often sets them apart on the court. They may not call it Ayurveda, but their lifestyle—their inner discipline—follows many of its principles. And that is what gives them their edge.
For me as a mother, that knowledge is gold. It gives me a sneaky little tool to convince my boys to step onto the yoga mat once in a while. Not just the tennis court. A few sun salutations here and there… I’ll take it! And for me as a woman, as a human being, it’s a deep invitation to turn the mirror around and ask:
In which areas of my life have I given up on my dreams?
Watching Aryna Sabalenka rise from grief, from loss, from war, from global judgment—and reclaim her dream—was a spiritual reminder:
There is no pain too deep, no situation too heavy, no voice too loud… to keep me from my dreams.
As long as I remember them.
As long as I take adversity not as a reason to quit, but as an invitation to grow.
To focus.
To recommit.
To do what it takes to do what I love.
Om & Namaste,
Verena Gayatri Primus
P.S. If this touched you, I’d truly love to hear from you. Just go to the Contact Form on this website and tell me—what dream are you remembering today? What part of you needs a little reminder that it’s never too late? And if you want someone to walk alongside you on that path… I’m here. 🎾🌿
💬 Feel free to share it with someone who may need to remember their dream today.
Free Holistic Health Starter Kit!
5 Holistic Health Practices: The Secret to Staying Mentally Strong
& Emotionally Grounded
Kickstart your Ayurveda-Yogi Journey with this FREE Holistic Health Toolkit. It’ll will help you prioritize self-car and finally stick to it!
