With the stakes high at the WTA Finals, players are feeling the pressure. World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka has her eye on her first title here after four attempts at the tournament. In her second group-stage match against Jessica Pegula, the top seed turned her stress into fuel. Even her coach looked caught off guard in the box.

While the Belarusian won the match after dropping the second set. In the end, she held her nerve, outlasting Pegula 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.  But it wasn’t without drama. Sabalenka’s coach, Anton Dubrov, left during the deciding set after being on the receiving end of her frustration with Pegula’s challenge.  Asked post-match on Sky Sports Tennis what happened with Dubrov, she said, “I think I went a little too much on Anton. We’re gonna… probably still talk if he’s still here, but I don’t know where he is. But yeah, I went a bit too far. I was so frustrated inside of me, and I was just trying to let it go and probably went too far.”

And true to her word, the match was just that exhilarating for both players. It started strong for Sabalenka, who grabbed the first set 6-4. Pegula bounced back quickly and dominated the second 6-2. In the third, Aryna Sabalenka fell behind a break early as Pegula led 2-1. The Belarusian plays with raw emotion, and her coach saw that up close in Riyadh. Frustrated by her own errors, Sabalenka let her emotions out, directing them toward her team.

It’s been seen over time that Sabalenka shares a special bond with her team, especially her coach. Dubrov joined her camp in 2020, and together they’ve built quite a record. He’s guided her to 14 WTA Tour titles, including four Grand Slam singles trophies: The Australian Open in 2023 and 2024, and the US Open in 2024 and 2025. He also led her to the world No. 1 ranking.

Fans love their vibe off the court too. Her fun TikTok videos and dance challenges with the team often go viral. Even when she jokes at her team’s expense, like at the 2025 Australian Open ceremony after losing to Madison Keys, fans can’t help but laugh. She said after the final, “Should I say anything to my team? As always, that’s your fault, guys. I don’t want to see you for the next week. I really hate you. No, anyway, thank you so much for everything you’re doing for me, blah blah blah. I think we did our best, just Madison was doing incredible and I couldn’t do anything in this match.”

It was lighthearted, and her team responded with hearts from the player box. Their respect for each other is clear, and Aryna often calls them her family. Still, her fiery moments aren’t new. While she apologized this time for her outburst, it wasn’t the first time. But her coach knows her persona on and off court.

Aryna Sabalenka speaks about her outburst to the team at the US Open

In September, the defending champion powered her way to a second US Open crown over Amanda Anisimova, the opponent who had knocked her out of Wimbledon earlier. But the journey was far from smooth. The world number one saved her very best for the final, where she brought a calm, calculated version of her game.

At the trophy ceremony, Aryna Sabalenka opened up about the emotional rollercoaster she’d been on throughout the season. She laughed as she turned to her team and said, “It was tough. In those finals, I was really terrible towards you, but come on, it was worth it, right? Thank you so much. I love you, you’re my family.”

The Belarusian admitted it hadn’t been easy losing back-to-back major finals in Australia and at Roland Garros, then falling short again in the Wimbledon semis. But lifting that trophy in New York made all the frustration worth it. Hard courts have always been her comfort zone, and this win reminded everyone why she dominates the surface like few others can.

Now, Aryna Sabalenka is back in action at the WTA Finals and just one step away from another semifinal run, her fourth overall. She’s been a finalist once before in 2022, but that title still eludes her. Could this be her moment? Her next challenge is Coco Gauff, who already has a win over Jessica Pegula. But Sabalenka is coming in with two wins in the round robin! Will she book her spot in the semis again? What do you think?