Aryna Sabalenka was born in Minsk, Belarus, to Sergey Sabalenka, a hockey player, and Yulia Sabalenka. Her early life was shaped by a strong family environment and the athletic influence of her father, fostering her competitive spirit from a young age. It was by a bit of chance that she stumbled into tennis, as her dad spotted tennis courts while driving one day and decided she should try it.

Sabalenka began her professional tennis career in 2012, playing primarily on the ITF circuit. These early years were crucial for her development, providing her with invaluable experience and exposure to the competitive world of professional tennis. She started honing her aggressive style and working her way up the rankings.