Aryna Sabalenka has been feeling inspired by tennis legend Rafael Nadal after watching his documentary.
The Spanish superstar, who retired with 22 Grand Slam titles and as a former world number one, has since documented many aspects of his life.
And it has already had a major impact on the current WTA number one, particularly when times are tough for Sabalenka.
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Aryna Sabalenka left inspired by “very strong” Rafael Nadal quote
Sabalenka is into the third round of Wimbledon, and was asked after her match to recall the last film she watched that had an inspiring line.
She said: “This kind of question I have to know in advance and then I can really think and come up with something.
“Right now, I don’t know.
“No, actually I know.
“I watched the Nadal documentary.
“He said, ‘The only thing you can control is your focus and motivation’.
“It really stuck deep inside of me.
“Sometimes now during the matches whenever things are going wrong, I’m like, ‘The only thing you can control is focus and motivation’.
“That was very strong.”
It evidently worked very well for Nadal, and is now having a very positive impact on Belarusian star Sabalenka.
She has yet to drop a set at Wimbledon, defeating McCartney Kessler 6-1, 7-6(11-9) after beating Teodora Kostovic 6-2, 6-3 in round one.
Prove me wrong – Aryna Sabalenka WILL NOT win a Grand Slam in 2026
She has two attempts left…
Aryna Sabalenka sets up intriguing Wimbledon clash vs Jelena Ostapenko
Sabalenka now faces an intriguing test in the third round of Wimbledon, with Jelena Ostapenko representing her next opponent.
The Belarusian leads the Latvian 3-1 in their head-to-head record, but Ostapenko won their most recent meeting.
She emerged victorious in the 2025 Stuttgart final, although the pair are now preparing for their first-ever clash on grass.
Fittingly, both players have previously managed to reach the semifinals at the All England Club, but no further.
However, overall Grand Slam history is on the side of four-time champion Sabalenka, with Ostapenko claiming her one and only title at the 2017 French Open.
Nadal was, of course, most lethal at the French Open, but the Spaniard triumphed at Wimbledon in 2008 and 2010.
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