In an era of superb photographic technology and social media, a slight transformation of a personal's facial features is unlikely to go unnoticed.
That's what two-time Grand Slam champion Aryna Sabalenka has had to deal with in the past few days when the first pictures of her post-Australian Open success hit the internet. She's been under the microscope of tennis fans for apparently installing a new set of dental veneers.
Sabalenka won the Australian Open last month in a dominant fashion. She did not drop a set all fortnight, becoming just the fifth woman this century to achieve this monumental milestone at Melbourne Park.
She was expected to mark her return to competition in Doha but pulled out ahead of schedule. Seemingly, Sabalenka's withdrawal from last week's Qatar Open could have been a result of her dentist appointment to undergo a cosmetic treatment on her teeth.
Photos have emerged on social media, with the Belarusian showcasing her brand new smile, and even though she's yet to confirm it, fans have already reacted to the picture.
Several tennis fans have already shared their thoughts on X. Journalist Bastien Fachan wrote, "Obsessed with the seemingly credible theory that Aryna Sabalenka withdrew from Doha because she had to squeeze in a dentist's appointment for her new veneers. She's the rockstar of this era."
Another fan chimed in, saying, "I tend not to like this kind of thing, but I have to admit that she looks amazing!" The difference was visible from the moment the first pictures of the makeover emerged, according to one user, "I thought her teeth looked a bit different, wasn’t sure if it was just me."
Sabalenka's dentist deserved plenty of praise, as one fan asserted in the comments, "If you’re going to do veneers, this is how you do veneers!!"
It will be interesting to hear whether Sabalenka will comment on this conspicuous change. However, her stay in Dubai didn't go well, as she lost already in her first match to an inspired Donna Vekic.