Days after 'failure' criticism from Serena Williams' ex-coach Rennae Stubbs, Aryna Sabalenka receives unexpected support from Jimmy Connors

Jimmy Connors remained optimistic of World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka's career trajectory despite enduring some tough losses in 2025. His verdict comes days after Serena Williams' ex-coach, Rennae Stubbs, deemed the Belarusian's season a failure.

Sabalenka's 2025 season was a mix of triumphs and heartbreaks. While she won the US Open and three other titles, she came up short in two Majors finals, and was the runner-up at the WTA Finals as well. Despite her consistency at the top, Stubbs felt that Sabalenka's year was subpar.

"You've hit the pinnacle by becoming world number one two years in a row, like the consistency that she had this year was outrageously good. But having only won one, essentially one major title, the US Open, I would say that she would say that her year was a little bit of a failure," Stubbs said.

In the latest episode of his podcast, Advantage Connors, Connors opined that even if Sabalenka reaches a final all the time, she's not guaranteed to taste success every time. Her opponents are gunning for glory as well, and one can easily experience an off day during an important match.

"You're right, she keeps putting herself in these situations, and things don't go right all the time. Your opponents are trying to do the same thing you are, and that's beat you and win the tournament. Counteracting that, you might be expecting something different, or your opponent comes up with something different, or you might be a little off, or whatever," Connors said.

Connors also said that Sabalenka's near-misses in 2025 will motivate her to succeed in the coming years. She wouldn't want to experience the same heartbreaks over and over again.

"She can look back on this year and though she might say she's successful, she'll see that she had 3-5 opportunities to not make it a good year but an exceptionally great year. That might just drive her even more, to say, look at what I was able to do, I let this slip by, I'm not going to let that happen again," he added.

Sabalenka wrapped up the season with a 63-12 record, and won four titles from nine finals. Her consistency helped her stay atop the rankings for the entire season, and claimed the year-end No. 1 ranking for the second year in a row. She has already committed to her first tournament of the 2026 season.

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Aryna Sabalenka to begin the 2026 season at the Brisbane International

Aryna Sabalenka at the Brisbane International 2025. (Photo: Getty)

Aryna Sabalenka will ring in the new season at the Brisbane International 2026, which will run from January 4-11. She's the defending champion there, and won the title in 2025 with a win over Polina Kudermetova in the final.

Sabalenka also made the Brisbane final in 2024, going down to Elena Rybakina in the summit clash. Following her outing in Brisbane, she will head to Melbourne for the Australian Open.

The 27-year-old claimed back-to-back titles at the season's first Major in 2023 and 2024. Her quest for a three-peat came to an end with a loss to Madison Keys in the 2025 final. She will aim to become the first woman to reach four consecutive finals at the Australian Open since Martina Hingis made six in a row between 1997 and 2002.

Edited by Rohit