Aryna Sabalenka Outlines Why She Loves Fashion And Doing Photoshoots
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Although the rewards for getting to the top are impressive, the lives of professional athletes can be stress-inducing. WTA world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka recently spoke about how doing photoshoots helps her forget about daily life.
Sabalenka probably wanted to forget about tennis for a while after her 2025 Australian Open final against Madison Keys. The American won a dramatic match 7-5 in the third set to claim her first Grand Slam title.
That defeat hit Sabalenka hard. The 2023 and 2024 champion in Melbourne screamed at her team after the final point, smashed her racket after shaking hands with Keys, and went off-court for a few minutes before the trophy ceremony.
Some, including Rennae Stubbs, Serena Williams' former coach, criticized Sabalenka's actions immediately after the final and felt they diminished Keys' moment. Others, such as Andrea Petkovic, defended the Belarusian.
Whether Sabalenka regretted her reaction or not, the three-time Grand Slam winner probably wanted to focus on other things before playing again after that loss. Fashion and photo shoots allow her to do that.
Sabalenka recently appeared in the fashion and cultural magazine Flaunt Magazine, where she posed in various outfits for a photoshoot. The WTA star looked stylish throughout and was clearly in her element.
"When you go for photo shoots, you have makeup, you have your hair done, you try different styles. You see yourself from different perspectives. I love it. You forget about your normal life."
This is not the first time Sabalenka has spoken about being interested in glamour and fashion. It is one of her biggest passions, and she does not hide her desire to become more involved in that area in the future.
Although the 26-year-old's tennis career keeps her busy, many players have other activities. Petkovic previously spoke about how Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova changed the notion that players could only focus on tennis during their careers.
Sabalenka recently moved from IMG to Naomi Osaka's agency Evolve because she felt IMG was not doing enough to grow her brand. Part of that growth might be supporting the Belarusian with other fashion-related activities.
Next week's 2025 Qatar Open will see Sabalenka return to tennis. She skipped last year's iteration of the tournament after winning the 2024 Australian Open, feeling that additional rest was needed.
Sabalenka has decided to return to the court more quickly this year. Her loss in the Australian Open final might have influenced her decision. After a short break, she may be determined to respond strongly.
Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff are among the other players on the entry list for the opening WTA 1000 tournament of 2025. Swiatek lost in the Australian Open semifinal to Keys despite holding a match point at 6-5, 40-30 in the deciding set.
Sabalenka reaching the final in Melbourne was enough for her to remain at No. 1 despite the defeat. She stayed in that position in the latest WTA rankings released on Monday, which included Karolina Muchova and Maria Sakkari rising to a higher spot.
