Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Mirra Andreeva, and More on Winning, Losing, Living, and Dreaming

What’s a loss that sticks with you?

Obviously the Australian and US Open finals—in Australia [against Elena Rybakina], I had a break in the third set and felt like everything was going my way, but then it slipped, so I was really, really disappointed with that one. I should have won that one, but I didn’t. The US Open, not so much—[Rybakina] played really incredibly, and I didn’t.

When you walk out onto the court for a match, you’ve got headphones on. What are you listening to?

Sometimes nothing—sometimes I just like to block out the noise and stay in my thoughts. Sometimes I just put on some melodies that make me feel fired up. It’s always different—it just depends on my mood. I have a lot of favorite artists. I like Beyoncé. I like Rihanna. I like Dua Lipa, Tate McRae, Teddy Swims, Eminem, Justin Timberlake, 50 Cent, Britney Spears. I just need to rotate.

If you didn’t play any sport, what would you do for a career?

I think boxing or modeling—they’re so different, but both are things that I love.

Is there a sport other than tennis that you watch or play?

In Dubai—it’s actually crazy to say—but for the first time in my life I went to watch a UFC fight, and I became obsessed. I’m watching lots of fights now, and my entire algorithm is UFC and fighters. I became a huge fan of Khabib [Nurmagomedov, the undefeated UFC legend]. So, yeah, I’m crazy about UFC. I also like ice hockey, and I like to watch basketball and Formula One. I’d like to watch more MotoGP, but I cannot watch it because I’m like, How do you guys do that? It’s so dangerous. I feel so tight watching them race—I’m so scared for them.

I know that you like to get dressed up and that you’re no stranger to going big. You like a big heel, yeah?

Well, I love the way my body looks. But walking, as an athlete? It’s like a workout for me. I had to walk Vogue World in Milan, and I was just dying, because I’m not used to walking in high heels. But still, that was the best experience of my life.

Elena Rybakina, 27, Kazakhstan

Your best win this year on the tour?

Probably the US Open. I won the Australian Open at the beginning of the year, but the US Open just felt a little bit bigger this year, and New York is such a special city.

What’s your best weapon on the tennis court?

Just the aggressive style of my game. My serve can put me in a position where I can attack from the first ball and be dominant from the beginning of the point, and when that works, it doesn’t really matter who is on the other side.

When you’re away from the court, do you have a guilty pleasure, an indulgence, or a hobby?

I love sweets. With all the travel, I’m very sensitive, so it’s really not easy for me to just let it go and eat whatever I want, but yeah. When I get a chance, I kind of destroy myself—not just sweets, but everything baked: croissants, pain au chocolat.

Jessica Pegula, 32, USA

Your best win this year?

I played a really great match against Amanda [Anisimova] in Australia to make the semis, and then winning the Dubai title—being able to beat [Elina] Svitolina in the final—was really great. Everyone knows Dubai, and it’s cool to say, “Oh yeah, I won that title in Dubai.” I also played a really great match against Iva Jovic to make the quarterfinals in Wimbledon. I felt like I was able to go up two levels and kind of take the match from her, and to be able to do that against a younger player in a big situation felt great.

Did you have a hero or role model when you were growing up?

I didn’t watch a ton of tennis growing up—I was playing tennis—but my mom read me a lot of books about players, biographies and autobiographies, and I remember being drawn to Martina Hingis and Mary Pierce when my mom would read me their stories.

What’s your best weapon on the tennis court?

I’m very good at staying even-keeled and not wasting a lot of energy. It drains me when I’m wasting a lot of emotional energy. Some people play off of that and can handle it great, but I feel that gives me too many ups and downs.

One piece of advice for an average club player?

Sometimes I think people see pro players hit the ball and they’re like, Oh—I need to hit it harder. And you absolutely do not. I think that learning how to hit your medium rally ball that you can make 85% of the time is really important, because that’s something you can build your game around.

How do you get pumped up—or calmed down and focused—before a match?

I used to meditate quite a bit, and I feel like I can always go back to it if I’m feeling a nervous or anxious type of energy. Then I move on to just focusing on breathwork, which I think is so important for us when we’re on the court, too. Sometimes if you focus on your breath and let everything else just kind of happen, everything starts flowing and you get more instinctual, which I think is how you always want to play.

Do you have a guilty pleasure or something that you indulge yourself in when you’re away from tennis?

I play a lot of Call of Duty. Hours. I have a gaming laptop and I have a PS5 at home. One of my best friends and her boyfriend play, and my husband and I play with them all the time. I play with my brother and my sister a lot, too. I was a big Sims kid—sometimes I’ll whip that out and play for three days straight and then put it away for a year—and I went through a big Grand Theft Auto phase. I’ve heard mixed things about the new GTA—people are questioning the graphics—but let’s just say I’m interested.

If you didn’t play tennis—or any sport—what kind of job would you have?

When I was younger, I got really into hockey and always said that I wanted to be the first female GM of a hockey team. But now that I know too much, being a GM sounds really stressful.

When you’re getting dressed for a big night out, do you have a favorite piece, or something that you love that’s important to you?

I like traveling with a good dress and then elevating that with nice shoes or a purse or a jacket. And I’m definitely a jewelry person—that’s always been my thing.

You’re wearing Chanel here—were you a fan before this?

I got a really nice Chanel bag that I wore throughout my whole wedding weekend a few years ago, and I have a really nice pair of Chanel shoes, and another Chanel bag in a [Buffalo] Bills kind of blue that I’ve worn to games.

Elina Svitolina, 32, Ukraine

Your best win this year?

The Rome title—I had won there before twice, but winning there again as a mom, eight years later, was really a proud moment.

Did you have a hero or a role model growing up?

I really loved watching Andre Agassi—I loved his style of play and his presence on the court, and as a young player I always tried to imitate him, in a way: his spirit, his energy, the way he created the game on his own terms.

How do you get pumped up—or calmed down and focused—before a match?

Over the years, I’ve tried different tactics: Sometimes meditation works for me, sometimes it’s watching motivational videos, sometimes music—AC/DC, Eminem, Red Hot Chili Peppers. I also really love the spirit of Kobe Bryant and the way that he kind of went into this state.

Are you talking mamba mentality?

Yeah, exactly—he was just really focused on the goal, the mission.

If you didn’t play any sport, what kind of job do you think you would have?

I would be a chef. Cooking really brings me joy, and when I’m home, I like to cook for the family. My grandmother and my mom are great cooks—I think it’s in our culture to prepare something nice.

Do you have a specialty?

I’m quite good with pies and cakes.

Linda Noskova, 21, Czech Republic

Your best win this year?

Well, I’ve got to say Wimbledon, right?

I mean, you don’t have to, but if I were you I probably would.

Yeah. From any perspective, that final was mentally and physically one of the toughest matches that I’ve ever played in my life.

How do you get pumped up—or calmed down and focused—before a match?

I usually like to calm down—I don’t really like to do anything right before my match, like listen to music or whatever, but a few hours before that I like to read: horror, something historical, a biography. I like a lot of different genres.

Do you have a guilty pleasure or something that you indulge yourself in when you’re away from tennis?

In my off-season, I like to travel to different places to see different cultures, different people, different languages. Last year I went to Zanzibar, in Tanzania, and volunteered at a local kindergarten for a week or 10 days, which was short but sweet, and I would love to go back there again.

Is there a sport other than tennis that you either watch or play?

I’ve been a huge fan of WWE since I was 14 or 15. It’s pretty weird for a European kid—I watched it on YouTube, but then when I was in America for the first time I put on some random channel and saw the wrestling and I was super pumped about it. That was my first time watching it live. I love Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks, and some men as well, like the Undertaker and John Cena. Charlotte Flair was in my player’s box at the US Open this year—she’s obviously super strong and such an athlete, but at the same time, she’s a gorgeous woman, and so cool.

Karolina Muchova, 30, Czech Republic

Your best win this year?

The finals in Doha—and playing doubles with Serena [Williams, in Berlin] was also so important, even if we lost in the first round. But it was a special match—just to have the chance to stand with such a champion as Serena and to practice with her.

What’s your best weapon on the tennis court?

My creativity—the way I can make the court very uncomfortable for my opponents…and for myself, sometimes, too.

How do you get pumped up—or calmed down and focused—before a match?

I listen to songs—different ones at every tournament. It can even be a slow song that brings you some feelings, but I always play that one song, and then I’m over it and go to another one. Lately it’s been just beats, fast songs, but it can be something from Beyoncé or Harry Styles, or some Czech pop songs.

Do you have a guilty pleasure or something that you indulge yourself in when you’re away from tennis?

I eat crazy food. I have a sweet tooth, so candy, chocolate, ice cream, pancakes; but I also like junk food, hamburgers, and everything that I can’t have when I play. I also play guitar—just to relax, as a hobby. I’ve been playing for about nine years, both acoustic and electric. I have a beautiful Takamine acoustic and a really nice Fender Stratocaster that my parents gave me for my birthday this year.

Is there a sport other than tennis that you watch or play?

My dad and my brother are both footballers—my dad is now a coach—so I watch Czech football, and when I’m in America I like to go watch the NBA or NHL.

When you’re getting dressed for a big night out, do you have a favorite piece, or something that you love that’s important to you?

I like to have a nice bag and jewelry, but overall I’m going for effortless and casual. I like simple pieces that look like I didn’t try too hard to put them together, even if I actually did.

Coco Gauff, 22, USA

Your best win this year?

Probably the US Open quarterfinal against Mirra [Andreeva]—I saved two match points. I wasn’t really playing that well, but I fought really hard for that one. I also think the energy in New York just gives you an extra motivation to go the extra mile and never give up. And I’m always not giving up, but sometimes home court advantage is a thing.

Did you have a hero or a role model growing up?

The Williams sisters—Serena and Venus—are definitely my idols. Still are. Just seeing a woman of color dominating a sport that didn’t always cater to them historically. Also, their ability at merging sports, fashion, and culture is something that I always was interested in.

How do you get pumped up—or calmed down and focused—before a match?

Usually I try to meditate a little bit—I try to visualize myself just being successful in the match and seeing myself doing successful things. After that, honestly, I’m just on TikTok or just being normal.

And you walk out with headphones, yes?

Yes—usually some hype rap music, or sometimes some gospel—Kirk Franklin or Tye Tribbett. They don’t really sing; they’re more yelling and stuff, with a choir in the back that’s doing the singing for them. If you’ve ever been to a Black church, it’s kind of that style.

Favorite city on the tour?

Paris—I just love it. It was the first city that I visited outside of the US, so I think I just always have nostalgia towards that, just realizing how far tennis could take me. It just feels like a home away from home a little bit. People always ask me for Paris recs, but I’m usually just the girl that will just go to the park by herself. I just like the vibe.

Do you have a guilty pleasure or something that you indulge yourself in when you’re away from tennis?

I just started like three weeks ago, but I really enjoy pole dancing. That’s been my thing. I’m one of those people that hobby jumps a lot—I bought a guitar and I haven’t used it; I bought a keyboard—so I need to stop wasting money on stuff that I’m interested in for two weeks. I’m hoping that this one sticks. It’s challenging though—I’m not very great, but one day.

Is there a sport other than tennis that you either watch or play?

I play basketball for fun—I’m not good, I just like it. And I watch American football and basketball—the Dolphins and the Heat—and then track and field when it’s the world championships and the Olympics.

When you’re getting dressed for a big night out, do you have a favorite piece, or something that you love that’s important to you?

I can probably count on my hands the amount of times I’ve went out—in my life—to a bar or club, but I do like to dress up. Sometimes I’ll dress up to just take pictures. Lately I’ve been loving a good heel, because I’m already tall and I just like being taller than people. But also a good bag. I just started working with Miu Miu, so I’ve been experimenting with outfits and stuff with them. They like to do a lot of layering, and layering was something I usually didn’t do because I’m from Florida and it’s hot, but it’s something that I’ve been trying to embrace more. And I love accessories, like a cute bow, or they have the bag charms now—anything to spice up your outfit.

Mirra Andreeva, 19, Russia

Your best win this year?

Roland Garros—my first Grand Slam. The whole tournament was just something else. I still remember the emotions to this day. It was the very first tournament where I felt so focused—I could see every little hair on the tennis ball when I was about to hit the shot, and I haven’t ever experienced anything like that before.

Is there a loss this year that was important to you?

Yes—at the US Open when I lost, once again, to Coco Gauff. Coco is a very tough player that I don’t like playing against, but that’s okay. I had two match points—and obviously, with the New York crowd, I get that she would get 95% of the support, and I was actually dealing with that pretty good throughout the whole match. But having two match points to beat her for the first time and to advance to the semifinals of the US Open for the first time—there was a lot on the line that obviously didn’t go my way. That was very, very disappointing for me, and I was sad. But I think with time I’m able to learn from that.

Did you have a hero or a role model when you were growing up?

Yes, my role model was always Roger Federer. To this day I just adore him. For me, he is the best tennis player—not just the way he plays, but what kind of a person he is as well. I just love everything that he does.

Have you had the chance to meet him?

I had a very, very quick chat with him at Wimbledon last year. He watched one of my matches and afterward he was there with a lot of other people and I just shook his hand, and he congratulated me and I just said that I’m a big, big fan. But it was very, very, very quick—maybe 20 seconds. But it’s better than nothing, so I’ll take it.

How do you get pumped up—or calmed down and focused—before a match?

I’ve actually been talking to my psychologist about this a lot. She told me that if I felt a little bit more calm before the match, maybe I wouldn’t be as nervous. So I have one routine where I listen to motivating, but calm, music—Billie Eilish, Lana Del Rey. Maybe I read a book for a bit. And then before every match, whether I’m calm or if I need a little bit more energy, I watch Roger Federer’s 2017 Australian Open final against Rafa Nadal—five sets, an amazing match. I don’t know how many times I’ve watched it, but I do it to feel the stress of the match, the adrenaline of how they both played. And when I need a little bit more energy, I play Uno with my team. That’s where things get serious—that’s where we can fight a little bit. I also listen to more energetic music—Bon Jovi, Queen. A little bit of older times, but that’s my taste in music.

If you didn’t play any sport, what kind of job would you have?

I’ve been thinking about this a lot recently. For sure I would study more, go to university—but I also think maybe I might want to try acting. I don’t know—my mom says that I’m a pretty good actor when, like, something happens and I need to make it look like I don’t know what’s going on. Maybe I would just give it a shot and see how I would do.

You don’t seem like a stranger to getting dressed up and going out with your friends—

I love to dress up, and maybe a half a year ago I was manifesting heels, because I had never owned high heels in my life. I was talking about high heels everywhere, in every interview, and then I got a high heel from my agent as a gift. But since then, they’ve just been coming at me. Now I have 10 pairs. I don’t wear a super high heel because otherwise I’d break my leg, but I love to put little heels with everything I wear—with jeans, with pants, with a skirt. I think they make the outfit look a little more elegant, and now, for some reason I like the elegant lifestyle.

In this story: styling by Danyul Brown.