Transcript of US OPEN CHAMPION Aryna Sabalenka EXCLUSIVE: Transforming Doubt, Pressure & Loss into HUGE Success

This is an iHeart podcast.

Hey, I'm Radhi D'Vluukia, and I'm the host of a Really Good Cry podcast. I have the opportunity to talk to Vivian, too. Whether you're trying to get out of debt, build wealth, negotiate like a boss, or just finally understand how to do money right, Vivian is the person to ask.

Not understanding your own money and not understanding finances, there is risk for financial abuse. That is why every single woman needs to be good with money.

Listen to a really good cry on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

Your entire identity has been fabricated. Your beloved brother goes missing without a trace. You discover the depths of your mother's illness. I'm Dani Shapiro, and these are just a few of the powerful stories I'll be mining on our upcoming 12th season of Family Secrets. We continue to be moved and inspired by our guests and their courageously told stories. Listen to Family Secrets Season 12 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to the You versus You podcast. I'm Lex Barrero, inviting you to go beyond the titles and the accolades of the world's most successful entertainers. Each week, we take off the cape and get real about the inner battles, childhood stories, and the moments that shaped our guests. Get inspired to become the best version of you. Listen to You versus You podcast on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast. There have been heartbreaking losses for Sabelania this year. For all of the emotions she felt that she was composed, richly deserved win. Arena Sabelania, it's your grand and a Dipper USL control. The number one health and wellness podcast. Jay Shetty.

Jay Shetty. He won. The one, the only, Jay Shetty. Arena, Samaelenka, congratulations. I am so excited to have you here. I've been looking forward to this for such a long time. I got to be at the game on Saturday. You were absolutely incredible. I can't believe we have you here 48 hours after you just won this incredible trophy, the US Open. Women's final was unbelievable. Congrats, and thank you for doing this.

Thank you for having me. I think I'm more excited than you. I've been watching your podcast and following you for, I don't know, for how long. So I'm probably more excited than you.

That feels really good to me, the fact that you watch it. It means the world to me. But honestly, I've been really excited. I'm watching you live. There was nothing like it. The attitude, the personality, the amazing sportsmanship, just incredible play. It was fantastic to watch, truly.

Yeah, it was a great match, and I'm really happy that you enjoyed watching it, and you had fun.

How does it feel when you're winning Grand Slam after Grand Slam? This is the second time you've won the US Open in a row. Does it feel different from the first time? Does it feel the same? What goes through your mind and heart?

Every time you win the Grand Slam, every time is an incredible feeling, and every time, you feel like it's the biggest thing that happened to you. And I feel like it all depends on the situation in life and stuff, because this season, I struggled a lot. So I feel like this time it feels like it happened for the first time, like my first grand slam. So it's a big moment. And I feel really after getting this beauty.

Absolutely. Thank you for bringing it here. This is amazing. I love having it. Of course, what do you mean? This is the first trophy ever on on purpose. So this is a special moment for us.

Happy to be the first one.

What were you struggling with this year? When you say, I was struggling this year, that's why it feels like a relief. What were you struggling with? What were you going to?

Yeah, I played early in the season, I played two Grand Slam finals in Australia and in Paris, and I lost those two finals. They consider me favorite. So I thought that I felt like, okay, it's coming my way. I was so excited, but then I would lose in the final And I was really sad. And it was really tough to go through those tough lessons, tough losses. And getting this trophy means a lot. It means that I learned a lesson, I became a better player. I have I have better control over my emotions, and I'm super happy that I was able to win this trophy.

Obviously, you've just won, and we'll talk about that. I want to know, what do you do when you lose? Because losing is so much harder. It hurts. It's so much more painful. It hurts so deeply. It hurts. What do you do? Do you analyze the game? Do you feel angry? What are the emotions that you go through when you've lost a game, lost a final?

A final. I think it's all about losing in the final. It hurts more because you're getting so close to your dream, and then it feels like it slips away, if I can say like that. So you're really depressed. And me, personally, I want to leave the place as soon as possible just so I forget it. But then I need some time to sit back, to analyze, to actually learn the lesson. So it takes some time to process the losses.

How long before you can watch the game back when you've lost?

I have to be honest, I never watched my finals that I lost. I let my team do that and bring me on the plate, Okay, you did this, this, and this wrong. I know mentally, emotionally, what I did wrong and where I made the mistake in the way I approach the final or what was my mindset. I know this part, but the tennis part, I let my team figure it, then they bring it, they tell me, I remember, because I don't want to watch it. I don't want to see myself there losing. And of Of course, the finals that I lost earlier this season, I was not behaving my best, and I had seen myself being not the kindest person. So I never watched my- Yeah, that's really interesting.

I also imagine when you're watching yourself back, it can make you repeat that behavior sometimes as well. It's like if you watch something closely enough, you're almost like you keep pushing the wound. It's like you keep pressing on that sky, if that makes sense.

Exactly. You just want to learn it, make sure that it's never going to happen again and forget it like a nightmare because I feel like watching it back, it just triggered that pain and something that you wanted to forget badly. So I feel like for me, for my mental health, it's better not to watch it.

Who's the first person after you win or lose that you want to talk to, that you want to hug, that you want to call?

I run to my team straight away. I run to my team because I know the work they put it for this win. So I run there and I hug my boyfriend first, of course, then my team, because I know how much of a work to be done to make sure that I'm able to compete on such high level. And then I message my family.

Nice. We were just talking about this offline. You were just saying this morning, you're on the Today Show. I'm sure you You have a million interviews to do today. It's been 48 hours since you've won. But people forget that these tournaments are played in these really tight time frames. This was two weeks, US Open. Yeah, two weeks. It's really intense. You're playing all these games, multiple sets, really challenging, the pressure is all compressed into this short timeline. Talk to us about the preparation as a team, as an individual, for the intensity of the two weeks that the games are being played in.

Well, yeah. We also You also have tournaments that leads to the Grand Slam. And then you have a week before the Grand Slam where you come to the place where you're going to compete and you practice, train, but also you have a lot of brands, dinners, meetings, some interviews as well. People doesn't know that before the Grand Slam, there is a week, really busy week, full of meetings, dinners, and this stuff, which is also not easy to handle. Also, you're training during that period. Then the tournament starts and there is another pressure which you deal with. But the preparation It's all about, of course, physically there is tennis, there's gym, there's fitness, all of this stuff. But also mentally, you're preparing your sofa really tough two weeks, two weeks of great tennis, hopefully, because you never know. But also two weeks of Like, fighting, like fighting for your dream. And mentally, you have this constant conversation in your head. You're going to do that. You're capable of it. You're strong enough. So you're really... I feel like if someone would hear my conversation in my head throughout this three weeks period, they would think that, okay, this is something wrong with this person because it's constant conversation.

Talk to us about that self-talk, because I think we forget that right now we're all So you look so obsessed with the conversation online. We're looking at what Twitter is saying, X is saying, we're looking at what-Social media. Social media. And then you forget that the real conversation is happening inside the champion's head. Exactly. Walk us through what that conversation looks like. What are the ups and downs? What are the shifts in that inner dialog?

Well, I think it's absolutely normal to feel nervous before big tournaments. And I think that every athlete feel nervous. Every athlete adopting I don't know, ability. Will he be able to do that again or how it's going to go? Because you never know. Sport is such a beautiful thing that you go out there and you don't know how you're going to feel. Will the game works? Will you feel great or better or what you have to deal with? Because people look from the outside and doesn't know. For example, I don't feel myself. I feel uncomfortable doing something on court and I have to deal with that. Before the tournament, I I prepare myself that I am ready to handle anything. I'm just talking that it's normal. I'm just trying to settle those thoughts in my head, not by trying to make them go away, because I feel like the moment when you try to make things go away, they're actually growing more, and it's more, and it's not easy to handle. So I'm just trying to tell myself it's okay to feel that. It's okay to think that. It's absolutely okay. Everyone thinks It's all about you going out there and fighting no matter what, and constantly having this conversation in your head throughout two weeks.

It's tough. It's tough, but I love it.

Yeah, you've learned to Enjoy it.

No, I'm just so grateful to have opportunity to experience all of that. Not everyone have this opportunity in life. So I'm just so grateful. And big opportunities is also big responsibility A big pressure. But not everyone have that opportunity. So you got to be grateful for that.

Yeah, that's beautiful. You reminded me of that famous quote that says, What you resist persists. The idea that if you're trying to get rid of a thought or trying to get rid of a feeling, it just expands and it takes up more space. And as soon as you accept it, you're fine. When you reject it, it just gets bigger, it gets harder.

Rejection, that's not the key.

Absolutely. When you accept that, of course, it's It's natural to feel nervous. Of course, everyone's feeling uncomfortable. Everyone's feeling stressed out. All of a sudden, it calms you. Whereas when you think that, oh, I'm the only one. Everyone else looks so calm and confident, but I'm stressed out. That's why we all get-I think that was my main mistake when I was just starting playing tennis.

I thought that I'm the only one who feel that, and I would focus too much on that. So I would forget about my opponent, and I would struggle a lot at the beginning of my career. But then the moment when I realized that everyone experienced that, and I start to see that in my opponent, and I was like, Okay, then it's normal. Then we're both in the same situation. We're both dealing with the same things, and it's all about who's going to do that better. So it's actually like a trick, I feel, like my intrig. Just accept it.

What's the hardest thing about being a champion, about being number one for you?

I don't know. I don't know. It's hard. I think there is nothing... When you call someone champion, when you hear the champion is like, how can I actually complain about anything? If you won a trophy, there is nothing to complain about.

Yeah. I loved when you came out after you've won and you had the champagne bottle. I was like, that sponsor must be really happy, Irina. I was like, that was the best reaction ever.

I sure came with the tequila because it's sponsored by tequila, not with champagne. But you got to celebrate it. You got to enjoy it because the hard work is done. Now it's time to celebrate it.

Yeah. I was thinking about the moment. I don't know if you remember that tournament where Ronaldo hit the Coca-Cola and he put the water up. Did you ever see that interview? No. So this is a press conference a few years ago, and it was Cristiano Ronaldo, a football player, and they'd put Coca-Cola in front of him, and he put it away, and he said, drink water, don't drink Coca-Cola. And Coca-Cola's stock price went down that day. It was crazy. So I was like, you just took Moët champagne's stock price must have gone up. Probably.

We need to check it out.

Yeah, the ski goggles, too. I was like, it was amazing.

It was so funny. I didn't know that I'm going to look that funny. It looked great. It just came straight from the locker room where they spread, I don't know how much of a bottle of champagne on me. It was a fun moment.

Yeah. I think celebrate... Do you know what? I was so I'm happy to hear you say, I want to celebrate, I want to have fun, because I think we forget. And sometimes you need to see the number one person in the world say, I need to celebrate, because I think this applies to everyone. Wherever you are at your stage in life, we don't celebrate any milestones. And then when you don't see the people at the top celebrate, you think, Oh, what permission do I have to celebrate? So I feel like you gave everyone permission to say, You know what? It's okay.

Exactly. You have to celebrate. Absolutely. Especially when you, in my case, losing the finals, losing some tough matches, dealing with some struggles, when you're finally able to win something big for you, I think it's important to celebrate that moment because you never know when this moment going to happen again. So you have to celebrate. It doesn't matter in which industry in life you are, whatever achievement you achieve. You have to go and just have a little moment for yourself.

Yeah. Do Do you take a moment to yourself as well to celebrate on your own? What does that look like? What does that personal celebration look like?

I usually celebrate with my team, with the people around me, because it's not like it was done only by me. I've done it with the help of people, so I feel like it's not only mine trophy, it's our trophy. But my celebration is like, one again in my head. I just tell myself, okay, I'm proud. I'm proud to be able to have this trophy.

Yeah. I think it's important to have that inner celebration as well, because I love that you just said that, I sit down and go, I'm proud to have this trophy. I feel like we're constantly looking for validation outside. And when you win something like this, of course, the whole world that loves tennis and loves you is validating you, which is a beautiful feeling. But I love that you said that you actually sit there and say, I'm proud of this trophy for myself, because I feel like that inner validation is something no one can take away from you and something that stays with you long after.

Yeah, because only I know what I had to go through, how tough it was and how it all started. This is important to appreciate it.

Yeah, it's beautiful. I want to go back, Irina, because I feel like I was watching a lot of your interviews when I was preparing for this. And I know we've been messaging for a while on Instagram, too. I was thinking about it. I was like, I actually don't think a lot of people know your journey and know your story that deeply. I think people know a little bit here and there, but on purpose, that's what we like to do. We love to know how people found their purpose, became who they were. And so I wanted to ask you, what is a childhood memory that you have or a memory that you can recall that you feel defines who you are today that has impacted the person that you are today?

I have so many great memories, but I remember watching my dad being really funny guy, the guy who would just make everyone feel happy and smile. And I remember I would just look at him and think, oh, my God, I want to become this person, just a positive person, the person who brings positive vibes everywhere she goes. So I think that's why I have this quite funny personality.

Is that where that playfulness comes from? Yeah. Watching your dad?

Yeah. And another story, but this story, it's not like I remember dad, but I think it perfectly shows my personality. When I was a kid and someone came to me because I was grunting while hitting the ball. And someone came to me calling me Sharapova, and I looked at the person saying, no, I'm Future Sabalenka. I was a kid. I was like, What? Nine or 10? And saying that, I was just like, when my mom told me the story, I was proud of myself.

I love it. And to me, it's all your... Even when I was watching it on Saturday, to me, it's all your microexpressions. You just have this face that I can just make so many different angles and faces. And I'm just watching you. I was telling you about a moment earlier as well. Amanda played an amazing shot the other day, and you just turned around, you were clapping it on the side. And I was like... It was a great shot. It was a I'm not very sure. It was amazing. It's all these micro things. But you're saying your dad inspired all of this? Yeah, my personality, I think 100 % comes from my dad. And he was also the one who introduced you to tennis as I was done. Walk me through that. How did he discover tennis? How How did he introduce it to you?

It's actually not by accident, but he was just trying to find some activity for me because I was a very active kid and he wanted me to be busy and to do stuff. And he was trying to find a sport for me and he was just passing by the tennis court. He was like, Well, why not just try it? So I tried it and I loved it and that's how it started.

That's crazy. Was he good at tennis?

No, he used to play ice hockey, but then he had a bike crush. So He was afraid to come back in sport. Oh, wow.

Was it quite a bad injury?

It was a very bad injury. He barely survived when he was 18 or 19. And since then, he didn't want to come back to sport because he was afraid that it will affect his health.

Did he do anything to help you feel confident about tennis? Or what was that relationship like? Because I heard in another interview, you said it was quite funny that you didn't actually think you got good at tennis until you were 16, 17 years old. And so that's a long time. If you started playing tennis quite early and you only felt really good at 16, 17, what was happening between that age when you started playing in 16, 17?

No, but I was pretty good. I was winning these local tournaments all the time. I was pretty good. And my dad would always just say, as long as you just go out there and you fight and you give your best, you're good. He didn't care if I win or lose. So he was a really great supporter. But I realized at 16, 17 that I can be maybe good internationally, going for those Back then, it was like 10,000 event, like a women's sport, like WTA. It started like... Actually, I think it was like ITF or something because I started from 10,000, 25, 50, 100. So slowly made my way to WTA tennis. So, yeah, back then I thought maybe I can be good when you compare yourself to other athletes. So that's where I probably am.

Who did you grow up watching? Who are the people that you admired? Because you already said, you're like, no, I'm going to be future Savilenka.

It's so funny because I think back then it wasn't that much of a social media, so I didn't have an iPhone to go to Instagram and watch other athletes. And I was training the whole... I was I was going to school, I was training, and then I was just having fun with my friends outside. So I was never watching TV or any internet much, so I didn't really look up to someone. Of course, I've Serena dominating there and there. So I was thinking, I wish I could become her one day. But no, I wasn't really looking up to someone. And this question makes me feel really terrible as a person. I feel like everyone have their idol, someone they look up to, and I never have someone. But I think the answer is just because we didn't have that social media. We didn't have something that you just grew up and you look and okay, and you see this life.

No, I didn't want to make you feel bad by asking it. No, you didn't make me bad. I'm just saying- No, and I always think there's something beautiful about it because I think sometimes watching people can inspire us, but sometimes not having that can actually help you find yourself. Even when I was growing up, I'm 10 years older than you, but when I was growing up, I was reading books about people because I couldn't follow them on social media either. So I read David Beckham's the autobiography when I was 16, 17 years old. And then I read Steve Jobs' biography much later. And so I was reading about people that I was fascinated by at a young age, but I didn't get to watch clips of them or whatever else it may be. And I think there's something beautiful about that because then you get to define who you are. And sometimes you can get caught comparing yourself to people. I think social media has made it so hard for young athletes or young anyone. You're looking at everyone going, I wish I was more like that. I wish I looked like that. I wish I had that game.

It's tough. It's nice to not have that, actually, sometimes because you're free.

It's a good and a bad thing at the same time, right? You see more stuff, you learn more, but at the same time, you can compare yourself to people and then feel better about your sofa some reason. So it can bring really strong insecurity in you. So I don't know. I think it's important to find something that you love, you truly love, not because you see a social media post and you think, Oh, I want to live that life. But do you really? You have to find something something that you love. And I think if you do what you love and you passion and you dedicate your life to that and you do everything you can to become successful in any area, I think that's the way to go.

Well said. Yeah, absolutely. I feel like it's so... Because winning the trophy is 1% of your life. The other 99% is what we don't see. We're just seeing the two weeks of the tournament or whatever it may be.

But it's the whole life.

It's the waking up. To walk me through your morning What's your routine? What does your routine look like? How do you set yourself up?

During the tournament?

Do me a game day and a non-game day.

Well, the game day depends on the match, once again, but I like to sleep in. I need to have a good recovery. But then I take it easy. If it's an evening match, I take it easy. I do some mobility in the gym to wake me up. I mean, of course, breakfast before lunch. Then I go inside, I do my warm up again, I do tennis hit, and And then there's a match game. And when it's not much day, then it's even longer sleep, later wake up, and easy start, a little bit of a hit, and then it's a treatment, recovery process. And then it's dinner. I love to go out for dinners.

Nice. Did I read somewhere that you meditate as well or have tried before? Do you practice any meditation or work with a sports psychologist as well?

I work with the sports psychologist for four or five years. Wow. We did some meditation. We did a lot of things at the beginning of my career. But then what I found that I was relying on her so much. She was a woman. I was relying on her so much. So I was expecting her to fix my problems, my emotions. And I was repeating the same mistake over and over again, and I was getting upset about that. So at some point I decided, okay, I have to take responsibility over my actions. And I stopped working with psychologists. And that was the moment when I started learning about myself, when I actually understood myself better. And I start to control my emotions much better. And I felt more balanced when I took that responsibility. So I think for me personally, it was a great move. But you never know, maybe one day I'm going to come back to get back to psychology, meditation, and all of that stuff.

I think that's the right process, though, with anything. I feel like it's learn, and then you have to go lead yourself. And it's learn and then lead yourself. And I think the challenge is if you constantly remain a student, then you're always dependent. And I think anything we become dependent on controls us. And then we're subject to how good we feel that day. But when you learn something and then you go and try it and you practice it and you apply it, then you get to see whether you actually internalized it. And so I think that is a good process. I feel like for anyone who's practicing any coaching, therapy, psychology, it's great to be able to learn and then go test all the stuff in the real world and then see where it goes back rather than keep it there forever, because then you almost... Someone's holding your hand the whole time, and then you keep holding tight and tight.

It's good to go back and forth, work with psychologists, but then go out there and try to figure by yourself. And then the moment you feel like you need to talk to someone and you need to find some answers. So it's always a learning process. As long as it's good for you, It's great.

I'm Radhi DiVlucia, and I'm the host of a Really Good Cry podcast. I have the opportunity to talk to Logan Yuri. Logan is a dating expert, a behavioral scientist, a best-selling author, and someone who is seriously changing the way we think about love and dating. In our conversation, we talk all things dating that Logan has studied and tested, from what to put in your dating profile, the pictures you should and shouldn't be using, to the conversation starters that actually work, and the huge no-nos that people probably do not realize are reducing their chances of success on apps. Whether you're single, dating, or just trying to be more intentional in love, Logan offers the clarity we all need. Relationships do require work, and the best relationships are people who really work on them together.

They're so focused on, If I find the perfect person, then I'll have the perfect relationship, instead of understanding really that they can choose someone great and then build that relationship together. They don't need to keep searching for perfection.

Listen to a really good cry on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

Welcome to the You versus You podcast. I'm Lex Burrero, and every week we sit down with some of the biggest names in entertainment to talk about the real stuff, the struggles, the doubts, and the breakthroughs that made them who they are. We go deep, exploring childhood trauma, family, overcoming loss, and the moments that shaped their journey. These honest conversations are meant to take the cape off our heroes with the hope that their humanity inspires you to become a better you and therefore, set you free to live the life of your dreams. Here's a sneak peek.

I'm trained to go compete. I'm trained to go harder. But sometimes that mentality stops you from stopping and smelling the flowers in your own garden.

Is it wrong to want more? We migrated.

Our family migrated here. I'm like, second generation.

Listen to You versus You as part of Michael Tuda Podcast Network, available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Your entire identity has been fabricated. Your beloved brother goes missing without a trace. You discover the depths of your mother's illness, the way it has echoed and reverberated throughout your life, impacting your very legacy. Hi, I'm Danny Shapiro, and these are just a few of the profound and powerful stories I'll be mining on our 12th season of Family Secrets. With over 37 million downloads, we continue to be moved and inspired by our guests and their courageously told stories. I can't wait to share 10 powerful new episodes with you. Stories of tangled up identities, concealed truths, and the way in which family secrets almost always need to be told. I hope you'll join me and my extraordinary guests for this new season of Family Secrets. Listen to Family Secrets Season 12 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

How would the people that know you beyond tennis, personally, deeply, intimately, how would they describe you? What would they say about you?

I don't like to talk about myself, but I feel like they would say that I'm very kind, funny, of course, and very generous. I think that's how they would describe me. I mean, that's what I hope they're going to describe me.

That's what we're going to have to check with her.

Maybe they're going to just say, Okay, you know what? She's It's crazy. You better just stay away. Who knows? But that's my hopes.

Yeah, funny, kind, and generous is a good three. I like those.

I'm going to check after it. Maybe that's just how I see myself, but reality is different.

We'll check afterwards. Yeah, let's just ask them. I'll have to ask a few people. How much does your life off the court in your personal life impact your life on the court?

Well, I think anyway, everything works together. So But I think it's all about balancing your off the court and on the court life, because I feel like on the court, I'm really aggressive. I'm so focused. I'm just chasing my dreams. I feel like people who doesn't know me, they can say that I'm I'm super crazy person and super aggressive on and off the court, but it's not who I am. I feel like off the court, I'm more fun and I love to have fun. You have to balance. You have to put the hard work in, but also you have to go and enjoy and do things that brings you joy, because then when you feel balanced and feel like you're enjoying your life, then you're able to go there and to bring everything you have and to fight and to be focused.

Yeah. I feel tennis has done so much, hopefully, to start leveling the playing field with men and women. Have you ever felt that divide personally while playing? Do you feel the pressure that everyone in the media puts on the sports of men and women are not equal. There's this challenge. Have you felt that or do you feel that doesn't really cross your mind? How do you process that?

I'm trying not to focus on that because I just try to represent women's sport the best way possible. And of course, we're all fighting for equal price money and everything. But also at the end of the day, it's all about who brings the show, who brings people into the sport. But I think now the price money is equal. Everything is getting closer and closer between men and women. So of course, I love it. And that's what women athletes are fighting for. Thank you, Billy Jinkin, for fighting for us. I agree that we deserve to be paid the same. Of course, the level is different just because of the physical abilities. But the work that we're putting, it's equal to the work that they're putting. Of course, the level can be different, but it's just it's life. That's meant to be stronger than woman.

Yeah, but it's interesting to hear that you don't think about it because I guess you've just got to focus on playing the game.

Yeah, you cannot focus on many things. You just got to focus on yourself and bring the best of you. And of course, try to fight for having equal price money to be closer to what men are earning and that stuff. I think actually lately, women's tennis, especially tennis, women tennis, it's more fun to watch more people coming, attending people speak more about that. Maybe it's fashion-related because it's such a fashionable sport right now. But I feel like we are getting really close to men.

Yeah, I think it's been brilliant. I think the sport has done a great job at trying to move in the right direction for a long time. Yeah, push it. Billy Jean King, as you said, has been such a reason for that. It's been amazing. It's incredible. Talk to us about the fashion because as soon as you put your outfit on that day and you put the silver jacket on, I was like, Irina is going for it. How much fun do you get to have with all of that?

I love it. I love fashion. I love experimenting with my looks and stuff. And for me, it's important to look good on court, to feel good about myself. So I love that. I think it's all about having fun with it and bringing fashion to tennis. I think it's also going to help to explore our sport more. So I'm enjoying this.

Yeah. You see it in sports, I feel like basketball, especially in America, all the basketball players are very fashionable. It brings sports and culture together quite a lot. How do you find your inspiration for your looks? Is it just something you like the look of? How do you go about picking colors, silhouettes, everything else?

Well, I started to work with Carla Veltz, the stylist. She's the best, and she teach me a lot about how to mix stuff together, which colors works better for me. So she teach me a lot, and I follow a lot of fashion influencers just to see how they dressed up. And sometimes I find the inspiration. I order a lot of stuff, and I'm like, I cannot stop shopping. That's my weakness. Is it? Yes.

Yeah. There was a clip that I saw Where it's like, as soon as after the game, the first thing that went on was the AP. It went on straight after the game.

Got to take care of the fashion stuff of the game. Fashion part of the game.

I love it. Will you crush it? One of the things that I love talking to about with successful people, champions who have been through it, is like defining moments in their life. I feel like defining moments in every human's life, it either propels you forward or it can slow you down or break down. And for you, I feel like one of the biggest ones is losing your father. For anyone, losing a parent is such a huge part of their journey. For you, it's critical to your journey because it's the person who gave you what you love. Walk us through that moment in time.

Well, I hope I'm not going to start crying right now, but it was unexpected. It just happened like this. And it was a tough moment because I was so close to him. The reason is because we have similar personalities and we understood each other much better. He knew what to tell me when I was struggling on court. I would just call him and he would just say a couple of things and I would be like, Oh, that makes sense. Losing him was a tough moment. But instead of really going depressed. I just decided to take it as he's here with me. He's in my heart, in my memory. He raised me, I feel like, the best way possible. Thanks to him. I feel like I'm the champion right now because of him. I know that he's here with me. He support me, he takes care of me, he protects me. I took it as a motivation to put the family name in the history, and thanks to him.

How did you grieve at the time? What was useful to you? Because I feel losing someone's always hard and there's no perfect way to grieve. But what worked for you? What did you have to do in order to process that?

Well, I had to stay really strong because my mom was... It was tough for her to handle. She was a young woman to lose her husband that she loved. It was tough. So I had to say really strong and not really show my emotions, but I was crying a lot back then when no one saw me. But the best way for me was to go on court and practice and train. It was the only time when I wouldn't think. The beginning of the practice, till the end, I was just focusing on tennis, hitting was like balls, repetition after repetition. And then the moment the practice would stop, I would constantly think in, remembering something from the past, start crying harder. That was the best way for me to go through it, is go out and practice and practice and practice.

Yeah. I feel like you just break down straight after because I'm surprised you could even focus during the practice. That's impressive because- Yeah.

I don't know how, actually. I just figured that I went on court, start practicing, and I realized that, okay, this is the moment when I'm not thinking about that. And I was training a lot.

You were trying to channel it all into- Yeah.

Just let it go. Let it go because It's nothing you can do about. I feel like in life there is birth, love, and that's something that you have zero control on. So I was like, this was his journey. I was grateful that I was able to spend 21 years with him. I know that he's protecting me.

That's so beautiful. Thank you for sharing that. It's so beautiful to hear about my wife recently lost her grandmother, and I always say to people that... I'm so sorry. I don't even come close. My wife's favorite person in the world is her grandmother. And her grandma was 91. She lived an amazing life. But losing someone that close to you, that's raised you, that you have all these memories with, it's never easy. My My wife was by her bedside for four months every day before she passed away, sleeping in hospital and together with her. It was beautiful for me to watch just that love that they shared. That connection. Yeah, that connection and that level of love and that level of... And I love what you just said now about how birth, love, and death are the only things that are guaranteed. How do you think about love? What's your views on love? I'm intrigued seeing as you brought up those three important things.

I think love is something that you cannot really explain. You just feel complete with the person. You just feel comfortable. You're not doubting anything. You're having fun. You love everything about the person because everyone have good and bad parts, right? So you love everything. And I think that's something that gives you that feeling that... I don't know, that warm in your heart Yeah, it's a feeling. How would you describe? You know, right? How can... Yeah.

Love to me is when someone accepts you for who you are and you accept them for who they are.

And not changing And you're not trying to change them.

Exactly. I feel like the biggest mistake is when you either want someone to never change or you want someone to change today. Because chances are, if you spend long enough with someone, they will change and you will change. And if I want to change you, that means I never really loved you in the first place. It's very well-fired. And so it's when I'm willing to accept. Yeah, when I'm willing to accept and be with you and sit with you and understand you, I'm trying to be more curious than I am judgmental because I'm trying to understand why you are the way you are and what made you this way.

I totally agree.

Yeah, because I feel like it's so easy in any relationship. This isn't just romantic. I think it applies to parents, family, sisters, siblings, brothers, everyone. It's like you don't know why someone is the way they are.

You don't know what they've been through, right? What made them the way they are. And when you understand that about, like you said, family, friends, just people, right? Makes you just feel the person.

When did you start to feel successful and feel like you were a champion? Do you feel that way or is there...

I don't know. I never think about that. I think for me, success is the discipline that you put in. I think this is success, being able to be there every morning, every practice, doesn't matter How you feel. It doesn't matter if you want it or you don't want to be there. Because there is days when you just don't want to go and work or practice and do your job. And if you're still there, this is success. This means that you love what you do and you want to be successful.

That's a great definition of success. I love that. That's such a great answer. Success is actually showing up when you don't want to, when you don't feel like it. That's really what it is.

I think that's why I'm able to hold this trophies because I was there no matter what since a very young age. I remember going to practice, not feeling well. But I don't know, something was just driving me. I was just going there. I loved it. And that's why I say that people have to find something they love, because when you love something, what you do, that's what pushes you, to go, to do, to do better every day and to improve. That's important.

I love what you're saying, and I'm thinking about some of the things I think my audience struggles with sometimes. Let's say you find... Some people struggle to find something they love. Do you think that's because we have the wrong view of it? I think some people think if you love something, you'll always like it. But what you're saying is you could love something and there'll still be days where you don't like it, which I think is a really important point. Yeah. Does that make sense?

I feel like so many people give up on things because they feel like, okay, I don't want to go there. It means that, okay, I'm done. I think this is actually the moment where you can make the breakthrough. Because like you said, you're absolutely right. You can love something, but at the same time, you can experience those days when you just don't want to do that. And it's normal. It's a routine. So it's important if you love something at first and you felt happy, and all of a sudden you're like, Okay, I don't want to go there. It doesn't mean that you have to change something. You have to change your job. You just have to go through this period. It's like in every relationship. It's not perfect all the time. You have to go It was something.

Did you ever think about giving up? Was there ever a time in your life where you were like, I think this is it?

Yeah, there was a moment in my career. When was that? Three years ago? When I was double-folding, I couldn't surf. I don't know what happened with me. I couldn't surf. Just something happened and it wouldn't work. I was still playing. I actually ended up here in top 10 somehow without the surf. But it was really I was really close to just quit because I was like, I don't know how to fix it. We tried everything, psychology. We tried everything, going through repetitions, practicing different Everything. We tried everything and we couldn't fix it. And I was like, okay, I'm about to quit. But then we hired the buy my honey guy, and he helped to understand some details. So that's what I'm saying. It was the moment for me to stay strong, to go through it, to never give up, like how we say. And I didn't quit. And after that, I was able to win my first Grand Slam. And that moment It was crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy emotional.

I feel like that's always the case where it's like you love something, something about it's not working, you're struggling, you're not getting it right. And that's the point where you're required to be a bit more dedicated It's like that's where the unlock is. Yes.

I feel like universe, God, you call however you want it, send those challenges because you can handle it. And for a reason, Everything happens for a reason. And that was actually kept me in sport because I was like, okay, this is happening for a reason. I need to change something. And I think you have to go through this stuff, challenges to see why it happened to you. It's not only about sport, everything in life.

Yeah. And I feel like those are the moments that give you confidence and courage. When you overcome something, which... And I think people forget how much they've overcome. I love that you just said, I've been just showing up since I was a little kid. You've been showing up for so many years. And I think people think confidence is how you show up today or winning a trophy. It's like, no, no, no. Think about it. And everyone has showed up in their life. The people that are going to work for their kids, for their partner. People have been showing up. And if everyone could think of all the times in their life where they had the courage, had the confidence to show up even when they didn't want to, you're going to feel a lot more of that today a day rather than waiting to win to feel confident.

I think confidence, it's a process. You're building this confidence step by step, by waking up the early morning, by showing up somewhere you didn't want to, and slowly building your confidence. It's all about these little steps.

Do you have any unusual rituals or any things that you do before you got on court or on a day? Do Do you bounce the ball a number of times? Do you throw it a certain way? Is there a little trick or a little thing that you have, personally, that works for you?

Well, I have the same breakfast throughout the tournament. That's my...

What is your go-to breakfast?

I love avocado toast with two fried eggs from both sides. Over easy. It has to be perfect. I gave so much trouble to some of the places with this eggs.

It has to be It has to be perfect.

I don't know. Maybe I'm crazy. And the smoked someone on the side. That's my go-to.

That's your go-to breakfast?

I love this breakfast. I always come back to this one.

Yeah, very specific.

Yes.

Yeah, it's good.

Maybe this. And then I think about the bounce in the bowl. I think it's all about the habit. Maybe I actually pick the balls from the ball kids. I always pick from... If I win the point and I picked from... It doesn't matter which corner, for example, from the right corner, how I show the right, I mean, left corner. I will keep picking up the balls from that kid. Got it. I don't know why. It just gives me, I don't know, good feeling.

Yeah, I feel like we all have these little things.

But as long as these things in your control, it's good. When you rely on something that is not in your control, then it can become a problem.

Yeah, exactly. I mean, I'd be honest, any athlete I've ever interviewed who has continued to be a high performer in their life for a long time has a definite breakfast for their game day. It's a very common trait, to have a specific breakfast, have that Continuity.

Because for me, the main meal is breakfast. I like to sit there, enjoy my breakfast, have my cup of coffee. Yeah, that's my ritual. Yeah.

Who do you, Aya, I asked this to Novak recently when he was on the show. I was like, who do you consider your toughest opponent mentally?

Who did he say?

He said himself.

Himself?

It's a good answer.

It's a good answer.

I'll cut that out. You can say it as well.

Well, yeah, myself. Thanks, Novak. No, I cannot pick one. You know why? Because everyone is tough. It's tough. Everyone brings different challenges. And it's tough to say, Okay, she's the toughest one for me, because then you underestimate the rest of the group, which is not right. So all of them brings different challenges. But I think, Novak, thank you for that. You're the biggest Yeah, you're always your biggest mental competitor.

Yes. Because you're the one pushing yourself the hardest. Exactly.

For sure.

It's a good answer. What about your toughest opponent physically?

Coco, Ega. Yeah, I think physically brings the biggest challenge.

In what sense?

They move really great. So sometimes you build a point, and probably with others, this show will be a winner, but with them, sometimes you have to rebuild the point. Yeah, physically, it's not easy. Physically and mentally, it's not easy to stay strong and be ready that the ball going to come back every time, and you have to be really strong physically to handle that intensity.

Yeah. How does it feel? I'm sure you have so many young tennis players, both men and women, coming up to you, feeling inspired, feeling excited about your journey. How does that feel?

I think that's the goal in life. And I always wanted to be a good example for next generation. And when kids run to me and say, I love you, you're my inspiration, that's what actually matters in life.

What do you say to young athletes who are inspired by you, are moving moved by you? What's your advice to them? What's your words of wisdom?

Surround yourself with the right people. That's the main thing, because with the right people, you can achieve anything.

That's good advice. Did it take you time to find the right do you want to surround yourself with? Is that hard?

It's hard. It's really hard because there's so many interesting people around. But yeah, it took me time. I was really happy to have my My coach with me for I don't know how many years already, my fitness coach and a tennis coach. So they've been there for me and then find the right agent. I And yeah, it took time to build the right people.

Yeah, it does. I feel like that's true, again, in business, in sports, in everything. Finding the right team is everything.

Yeah, you go through being betrayed by someone and people come, people go. And it's a process. But I feel like the moment you find your people, you better stick to that group because this is what gives you energy and power to keep going.

Yeah, I remember I had a physical therapist that I was working with at a time, but we ended up talking while I'd be doing physical therapy, too. And it was really interesting. She said to me once, this was years ago, this was maybe six years ago now. And she said to me, she said, Jay, it's funny. It feels like the only people that stress you out are the people you pay. Because she was saying, when I talk, when I am venting, when I'm saying something, she was saying it was only the people in your professional world. She was like, It seems like your personal life's great. My relationship with my wife, my relationship with my family, my sister, my parents, but she was like, Oh, it seems like whenever you're going through something painful, it's always to do something in your life that's part of your business. And it really was a moment for me because I was like, Oh, I've got to think about this as much Because I think when I first, at least for me, when I first started moving, I didn't know anyone in the entertainment industry. I didn't know anyone in this world.

And so I was just trying to surround myself with people who were smart, who knew what they were doing, but they weren't necessarily on the same energy and vibrancy, if that makes sense. Does that make sense? You've had to find people on the same frequency.

Yeah. I think it's important to have people with a good energy, the energy that fits and that you understand each other. And that seems like you're people.

Yeah. That's why Right now, when we said, What do you want to get for food? You were like, No, my team knows me. You're like, I trust them.

That's what I mean.

And this year you launched Arena's Arena, right? Which I love, which is giving people more access to your team and the dynamics. Talk to us about that.

Yeah, I want to share myself. I want to share my life. I want to show those little kids that we're all people. You don't have to be perfect to be successful, right? I want to show what it takes to be where I am. And that is real, and you just got to work.

I'm Radhi Dvluukia, and I'm the host of a Really Good Cry podcast, and I have the opportunity to talk to Logan Yuri. Logan is a dating expert, a behavioral scientist, a best-selling author, and someone who is seriously changing the way we think about love and dating. In our conversation, we talk all things dating that Logan has studied and tested, from what to put in your dating profile, the pictures you should and shouldn't be using, to the conversation starters that actually work, and the huge no-nos that people probably do not realize are reducing their chances of success on apps. Whether you're single, dating, or just trying to be more intentional in love, Logan offers the clarity we all need.

Relationships do require work, and the best relationships are people who really work on them together. They're so focused on, If I find the perfect person, then I'll have the perfect relationship, instead of understanding really that they can choose someone great and then build that relationship together. They don't need to keep searching for perfection.

Listen to a really good cry on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

What happens when we come face to face with death?

My truck was blown up by a 20 pound anti-teat mine. My parachute did not deploy. I was kidnapped by a drug cartel.

I just remember everything getting dark.

I'm dying. We step beyond the edge of what we know.

To open our consciousness to something more than just what's in that Western box. And return. I clinically died.

The heart stopped beating. Which I was dead for 11. 5 minutes. My name is Dan Bush. My mission is simple: to find, explore, and share these stories. I'm not a victim, I'm a survivor.

You're strongest when you're the most vulnerable. To remind us what it means to be alive. Not I was the guy that cut his arm off, but I'm the guy who is smiling when he cut his arm off. Alive Again, a podcast about the fragility of life, the strength of the human spirit, and what it means to truly live. Listen to Alive Again on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. This week on Dear Chelsea with me, Chelsea Handler. Maren Morris is here. You came out of a marriage, you came out of country music, and you had a huge growth spurt from what I can tell.

I realized I was expanding and growing at a really fast pace. And yes, you could throw motherhood and the postpartum thing, learning about myself. There were a lot of identity crises going on, but I realized I can't look back and slow down for people. I want to set my own pace, and I will sacrifice my comfort to move at the pace that I have worked really hard to move at. Literally everything that could change in your life happened in five years for me, and it was a slow burn.

Listen to Dear Chelsea on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The truth is, tennis is such an individual sport, and I've had the fortune of interviewing people from so many different sports. But tennis and Formula One are so dependent on the individual in the sense that you're the one playing the game. At the same time, like you said, there is a team, and so it's important to show that. Same in F1, there is a team. But there's just so much. Even when you celebrate that day, like when you won, I was like, wait a minute. When you're on the court, you have to celebrate on your own, like the moment you win. Whereas if you watch any other sport, the team will come together, the players run to each other. Obviously, you can do that when you get into the stands, but That moment, you've got to savor it, like when you dropped to your knees.

Yeah, that was a very emotional moment. I still feel this because you have a huge team. And the amount of work that those guys put in. It's incredible. And I feel responsible for that because I know that they deserve to be the best coaches, the best agent, the best physio, the best team. So I feel responsible when I'm out there competing because it doesn't matter how much work they're putting. At the end, it's all depends on me. And they don't know if I'll go out there and I'll play my best and if I'll win. So when I'm there competing, I'm not only competing for myself, I compete for my team. But I'm there and I'm responsible for that on my own.

Yeah, you're carrying a lot.

Yeah, exactly. So it's tough. And that's why I feel like most of the athletes, not athletes, but tennis players and Formula One, they crying after winning something because all that pressure, all that things in your head, they just slowly go away and you feel, Okay, I did it. But Formula One is another level. I'm a fan. I don't know how they do that. It's like they put their life in risk, and it's so fast and so crazy. For me, this is intense.

Yeah, it's all intense.

No, because we have breaks between the points, between the games. Those guys, they're there for, I don't know how long, hour and something, right? And they're there. And if they just lose focus for a second, gone. This is tough.

It is scary knowing that you can take your own life and someone else's. The sport has got so much safer over time. Yeah, I know.

It's safer now, but still.

Are there any sports that you watch that you love, that you follow?

I love basketball. I love ice hockey, but it's not like I really have one team, one team that I support. I just love to watch, especially with the basketball sitting on the court side. When I see the way those guys move, with their height and everything, I always message my fitness coach, Okay, we got to do something. But I'm just frozen in the moment because I just look how they move. Probably it's like a professional defect or something because I just watch their movement and it's crazy.

It's crazy what those guys-Yeah, you're watching a different game because you're looking at the personality.

I look at different things, probably. In Formula One, I'm just sitting there and I'm like, how they can be focused for so long without losing their focus. Those races. Corner after corner. It's crazy.

Yeah, and it's repetitive as It's like...

Yeah, it's crazy. It's doing the same thing. That's what's actually crazy.

Yeah. How much time do you give yourself to now celebrate you doing press today? We said, it's only four, eight hours. How long before you have to get back to training, back on the grind, back to the discipline?

Well, the schedule is tough, but I think I'm going to give myself a couple more days to celebrate, and then we're going to go back to work, but also slowly, starting probably from the gym. Then we're going to build up because we have a couple more tournaments and then the finals, which is like top eight players, compete for another big trophy. We have a couple more big tournaments coming up. But for now, I'm going to take a couple of days to celebrate because when I was struggling, I was always going back to those moments when I was winning those Grand Slams, and I was thinking, I wish I could just experience that again, and I will celebrate like crazy because you never know if this moment is going to come again. Of course, you work, you hope, you do your best. But at the end of the day, you never know. So earlier this season, I said to myself, okay, if I will win it this year, I'm going to celebrate and I'll truly enjoy it. So the plan is for the next couple of days, enjoy it.

It's good that you're honoring that because sometimes you say that before and then after you win it, you're like, oh, now I need to just get back to it.

No, I have this control. I'm like that. I'm like, okay, I need to go back. But I'm like, no, we got to You got to enjoy.

Yeah, we got to do it. No, I love that. I loved what you posted on your Instagram. You wrote, To my team, I wouldn't be here without you, but don't forget, you wouldn't be here without me.

It wouldn't be me without joking.

Some little, yeah.

Some little, you know? Don't forget.

Some little spice.

I mean, that's who I am.

I genuinely love that you're honoring your time and energy to celebrate. It's such a great reminder. I feel like for years and years in my career, I was just going, going, going, going. And there was to be more mindful, to be more present, to really take it in because-And also mentally to be healthy, right?

It's important to balance this hard work with a little joy.

Yeah, you only come back sharper. Exactly. Have you found that as well? Has that been a big part of your recovery? To recognize you were talking about sleep earlier. Talk to me about the need for rest and recovery and what you do to really find stillness.

I feel like recovery is the key. If before I would blame myself even for going for a dinner during the tournament because I would feel like, Oh, it struck me and I wouldn't be able to be focused tomorrow. No, it's wrong. You have to go for dinner. You have to do things that brings You have to joy. You have to sleep. You have to focus on your recovery as well because this is part of the process. To be able physically and mentally handle this pressure and this intensity, you have to have a good recovery. So it's also one of the main priorities for us.

I love that. So, Irina, I know you have this Battle of the Sexes game coming up with nick. Nick had been on the show. Very excited about this repeat. I don't think it's ever been It's been done again.

No, I think it's been done a long, long time ago. Yeah, Billy Jean King. Yeah, really long. Yearss ago, yeah. When was that? When was the year? The '70s.

The '70s, yeah. Great game.

It's been a while, right?

If anyone hasn't seen the actual game, there's a great movie about it, too. With Emma Stone, I think-We're bringing it back. Yeah, you're bringing it back. What inspired this?

Well, since we're fighting for equal-priced money, I believe that's the reason, no? No, but mostly I think it's fun and it's cool to see, and it's interesting for me to play against the man, and I'm ready to kick his... I'm allowed to use this word, kick his ass, right? I'm putting a lot of pressure on him right now, so I hope he's going to just withdraw from feeling all of the pressure.

You can say whatever you want. Give us that message to nick. I'm going to send it to nick straight away after this message.

Well, nick, you got to be ready. You better be ready, and Yeah, I'm going to kick your ass, man. I love it. I think the ATP going to cancel the battle. Going to be like, well, okay, if it's happening, let it be Yannick or Carlos, but not No, Nico.

This is turning into a boxing match, it feels like.

Yeah, I'll make sure that I'll send him some drinks before the battle just so...

Oh, yeah. And you got some little tricks up your sleeve like that?

Yeah, I'm going to make sure he's not ready.

I I love it. And talk to me about this, the court chains they're going to have to help make it make sense.

Basically, I'll be on the side with a smaller court. Got it.

So he has a smaller area to lay into.

Yeah, to hit. And he's going to be on the regular size. So unfair already, right?

I don't know if it's unfair.

And I think we're going to have one serve each. That's it.

That's very exciting. Where is it taking place?

We're still trying to figure it.

I want to come watch. Come. So you're going to let me know.

You're going to sit on my side.

I'll cheer for you. Thank you. I'm going to message nick now, and I'm cheering for Irina. I love it. I'm on your side. Thank you. Irina, is there anything I haven't asked you that you wish I did ask you?

Anything- You know what you do. You ask everything I wish of talking about.

Yeah, I'm making sure because I I don't take these opportunities for granted. I feel so lucky that I get to sit with you 48 hours after winning. I feel so fortunate I get to speak to one of the best in the game.

I'm so happy. Number one in the world. I'm so happy to be in your podcast. It's been a dream of mine for so long, and finally we did it.

We did it. Thank you. I'm so grateful that I get to be part of your dreams. I mean that we end every episode with a final five. So these have to be answered in one word to one sentence maximum. But I always go away from that, so don't worry about it. Okay, let's see. Irina Sablenka, these are your final five. The first question is, what is the best advice you've ever heard or received?

Focus on yourself and don't listen to people because most of the people want you to fail. So focus on yourself and on people close to you.

Who said that to you?

My father.

That's awesome. How old were you when he first said that to you?

He said it to me when I was 17, I think. He was waiting probably for the moment for me to be ready to, I don't know, to accept some deep advice, actually.

How long before you feel you really took it to heart and really understood it?

Maybe when he passed away. I feel like when we're losing a person, this is the moment when we actually realize how much we lost. And we appreciate every little small detail. And the memory is still coming up in my head. I'm like, Oh. So you have to appreciate if you still have your family, just for people, you have to appreciate it and you have to really take care of your closest one.

Do you keep any physical part of him on you any time when you're playing or in your bag or anywhere or not? Really, it's more in your heart and your It's more in my heart.

When he passed away, I had an audience from him. But then I was crying like crazy when I figured that they disappeared after a year. I didn't record it, saved it somehow. It somehow was in the app just to keep his voice. Because he wasn't the person who would take a lot of videos, pictures and stuff. I don't have that either. I was really depressed that I don't have his voice, but he's in my heart, in my memory. I think that's the most important.

It's beautiful. Question number two, what is the worst advice you've ever heard or received?

Bad things never stay in my head.

Good answer.

I don't remember any bad advice.

That's good answer.

Work with IMD, maybe.

Good answer. All right, very cool. Question number three, I'm going to say, what would you say are your three most life-changing games that you've ever played, three most life-changing matches. And they don't have to be finals or wins.

I think the semifinal against Madison Keyes at the US Open, two Two years ago. I think, yeah, two years ago.

Why that one?

Because I was down set in, I think, 5-1 or something, and I came back in the match and I won that one and I made my first final. So I think that was the moment when I realized a A lot of things.

How does it feel to be 5-1 down?

It feels terrible. It's a terrible feeling, but you're still hoping that maybe...

How do you keep hope in that moment? Because 5-1 is literally like...

Yeah, it's like, okay, there's...

You're like, a few points.

Especially against big server. You're like, no chance.

I don't know. How do you keep hope? What are you holding on to?

You're just trying. I was reminding myself, it's a dream to be in the semis. So there is no way you're going to give up, even It doesn't matter how things going on, how badly it is. You have to still try. And then maybe there's going to be a moment when you figured something and you find your game, your rhythm, and you'll get the win. I did it, and it was a life changing moment. Then what else? Winning the first slam, of course, gave me huge, huge belief that, okay, I'm capable of it. My life wasn't a waste of time. And the third one-Your life was definitely not a waste of time. No, but you know-I don't mean your career just-It would be really difficult for me to finish my career without the slam. And the third one, I don't know. I don't know. There was one match when I won. There is a tournament in Doha, and I won the tournament But I think in quarter finals, I was also down the set and was struggling a lot, was playing really not my best tennis, and I won that match, and then I won the tournament.

Also was a big moment for me.

I think these three. It's amazing that the two of the ones you chose are when you're down and you come back. There's something about-This is the moment where it gives you that power because next match you play, you think, I mean, come on, I've been down five once.

Seriously, you think that I'm going to give up like that just because I lose my surf or whatever. So it just gives you that power to fight.

It's a great reminder to all of us that-No matter what. Those are the moments to look out for because they become your best stories. They become your best stories.

Stay there, stay there, keep fighting. And this is probably the biggest moment.

Question number three, what do you think people misunderstand about you that you'd like to clarify?

Well, I think because now I'm sharing myself more on social media, they have better understanding about me. But I think there are still some people that they think that the way I am on court, this is a reflection of me off court, which is not true, because I think, as I said earlier, I'm quite aggressive on court because I'm fighting for my dream there. And this is not the time where you have to be nice. Because off the court, I'm much nicer. I'm chill. It's really tough to get into a fight with me. So you have to do something terrible. Probably my boyfriend will say different, but I still think... So people misunderstand that, that I'm different person.

If people say, She's too emotional or unstable or whatever it is, you're like, That's just on the court.

I have to be. Yeah, that's on the court. That's arena on the court.

Yeah, and that's not arena off-court. I get that. I mean, this sounds ridiculous, but it's so true. It Me and my friends just play amateur everything. I don't play any sport well, but we get so competitive just playing around. So I can't imagine- I love watching people play tennis for fun. That's what I mean. I can't imagine.

But they're not taking it as fun. They go full.

Exactly. And you're actually playing a tournament. All my friends know that when we're playing a sport, I'm extremely competitive, and I'm not like that in real life or in person. And I'm You're not even playing the final of it. So yeah, there has to be a bit of grace. I feel like there has to be a bit of grace for athletes. I'm like, you've realized this is-Yeah, a little bit like stop yourself and look at everything as a bigger picture. Yeah, definitely. Question number four before the fifth, which where do I want to go here? One day, long time from now, we hope you're going to win so many more Grand Slams. I'm putting out loads of good energy. When you look back on your career, what would you like for yourself to feel about it? What would you like to say about your own career?

I would love to look back and say, I've done everything I could, and I want my career to be, remember, I remember it. And then I want to see young kids being inspired by me, and I want to look back and know that I actually inspired a lot. Yeah, I want to be in the history.

I love that. I I love that. You already are.

Sort of. Not even close to the greatest, but we're trying.

The trying is the most important part. It's wonderful to hear you say that. It's really special if you remind kids to try. I think that would help a lot of kids because not every kid will become number one, but every kid can try and chase their dream. That would be a good world to live in.

Just give your best and that's all you can do.

Fifth and final question, Irina. We ask this to every guest who's ever been on the show. The question is, if you could create one law that everyone in the world had to follow, what would it be?

I want everything to be decided in a conversation and no worse and stuff. Just sit down, speak, and figure out all of the problems.

That's a great law.

That's what we need in the world right now.

Save a lot of Lives. Yeah, save a lot of lives. If we were able to solve things by- Just by talking, sitting, and figuring and not leaving the room before you figured something. Yeah, that's a great answer. We never had that before. Irina Savilenka, congratulations again. Thankthank you. Thank you so much. Thank you for doing this. Thank you for having me. I'm looking forward to you coming on many years. Usually when people come on once, they come on a few times. I look forward to doing this with you many, many times.

Let's make it as our transition.

Yes, I'd love that. I'd love that. Congrats. Thank you. Thank you for bringing the first ever trophy of the show. You deserve it. And you're a true champion and a true leader. So thank you so much.

Thank you so much for having me. Thank you.

If you love this podcast, you'll love my episode with Lewis Hamilton. Lewis and I talk about why you should stop chasing society's definition of success and how to be more intentional with your goals. You don't want to miss it. It's not about being perfect. It's about just every day, one step at a time, trying to be better, trying to do more. I'm learning a lot about myself. I have to break myself down in order to be able to be better.

I'm Radhi DiVluukia, and I'm the host of a Really Good Cry podcast, and I have the opportunity to talk to Logan Yuri. If you're out there trying to date right now, being ghosted on Hinge, or want to create a dating profile that gives you a solid chance of matching with someone you actually want to go on a date with, then this episode with Hinge's Director of Relationship Science, Logan Yuri, is definitely for you.

Relationships do require work. The best relationships are people who really work on them together.

Listen to a really good cry on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

What happens when we come face to face with death? My truck was blown up by a 20 pound anti-teat mine. My parachute did not deploy. I was kidnapped by a drug cartel.

When we step beyond the edge of what we know.

Clinically died, the heart stopped beating.

Which I was dead for 11. 5 minutes.

In return. It's a miracle I was brought back. Alive Again, a podcast about the strength of the human spirit. Listen to Alive Again on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. This week on Dear Chelsea with me, Chelsea Handler. Maren Morris is here. You came out of a marriage, you came out of country music, and you had a huge growth spurt from what I can tell.

I was expanding and growing at a really fast pace. And yes, you could throw motherhood and the postpartum thing, learning about myself. There were a lot of identity crises going on, but I realized I can't look back and slow down for people.

Listen to Dear Chelsea on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an iHeart podcast.