Sabalenka Tells Zverev To Talk Mental Health With Family: 'Been Through A Lot'

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Aryna Sabalenka advised Alexander Zverev to discuss his mental health with family after he had said he was feeling lonely after his Wimbledon loss.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka has advised Alexander Zverev to discuss his mental health issues with his family before they overwhelm him.
German world number three Zverev recently shared his struggles, expressing feelings of 'loneliness" and 'emptiness" following his unexpected first-round defeat at Wimbledon against France's Arthur Rinderknech on Tuesday.
'Maybe for the first time in my life I'll probably need it," the 28-year-old told reporters when asked if he would see a therapist to help with his problems.
'I've been through a lot of difficulties. I've never felt this empty before. Just lacking joy in everything that I do. It's not necessarily about tennis. Just lacking joy outside of tennis, as well."
The three-time Grand Slam finalist's plea for help elicited a compassionate response from top-seeded women's player Sabalenka.
After her Wimbledon second-round win against Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic on Wednesday, the Belarusian revealed she previously sought help from a therapist before deciding it was more beneficial to share her struggles with her family.
Reigning US Open champion Sabalenka, 27, believes Zverev should consider a similar approach.
'Well, I had a therapist five years in my career. I stopped maybe in 2022. But it's actually crazy to hear from someone like Alexander because he surrounded himself with the family, you know?" Sabalenka said.
'It's really important to talk openly about whatever you're dealing with. Especially if you have your family, talk about what are you experiencing because if you're going to keep it inside, it's just going to destroy you.
'I think that's kind of like something happening to him. He just needs to open up to whoever is close to him. Like I think family is the best, people who can accept whatever you're dealing with."
What Sabalenka About Mental Health To Zverev?
Zverev's candid admission raised concerns for his well-being, and Sabalenka emphasised that being more open is essential for positive mental health.
'The moment you start talk about your problems, you kind of start realising a lot of things. It's helping to solve them," she said.
'So he just has to be a bit more open, not only to himself but just like open to his family, team, just so everyone is aware what is going on through his mind. That's the most important.
'Like me with my team, we always talk a lot. So that's why I don't need a therapist, because I have my team.
'We can talk about whatever. I know they're not going to judge me. They're not going to blame me. They're just going to accept it, and we are just going to work through. This is the best advice I can give Sascha."
(With inputs from AFP)
First Published:
July 02, 2025, 23:39 IST