World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is serving up style both on and off the court. The Belarusian tennis sensation recently revealed she'll grace the September cover of Time Magazine, and the accompanying photoshoot has fans buzzing.
In a series of behind-the-scenes images shared on social media Thursday night, Sabalenka posed in a sleek black Gucci swimsuit that highlighted her athletic physique. The photos, part of her Time feature, drew immediate praise from her legion of followers.
“You look amazing,” one fan commented, while another declared, “Pretty Queen Aryna.” A third chimed in, “Such a superstar.” The buzz comes as no surprise, given Sabalenka's status as the most compelling figure in women's tennis right now.
The Time interview delves deep into Sabalenka's journey, including her heartbreaking loss of former boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov, an ex-NHL player who passed away earlier this year. Sabalenka opened up about navigating grief in the public eye.
“I don’t know if there’s any cliché about how you’re supposed to grieve,” she said. “I feel like in this situation, there is no right and wrong. We all need different things. For me, going back to work is the only way. I’m 28, but sometimes I think I’ve had everything in life that you could imagine.”
While Sabalenka's fashion game is strong, her on-court form has hit a rough patch. Despite maintaining her No. 1 ranking, she hasn't lifted a trophy since her Miami Open triumph in March. The slump has tested her mentally, especially as she heads into the US Open later this month, where she's a two-time champion.
“I no longer have expectations. Basically, I don’t care. I’m just going to come, fight, and enjoy every challenge that comes my way,” Sabalenka admitted. “This summer, I had high expectations. Even if I don’t want to say it, I wanted to succeed in the tournament where I desperately wanted to have success. My body stopped me. Then there were small things that didn’t go my way, and that really led me to disappointment.”
Fans will be watching closely as Sabalenka returns to action at the Cincinnati Open this week, hoping to regain her winning form. Her resilience, both personal and professional, continues to inspire. And with her stunning Time spread, she's proving she can dominate headlines in any arena. For more on athletes turning up the heat in swimwear, check out Karmen Petrovic's vacation snap or Kristin Juszczyk's latest look.
