The world's top-ranked women's tennis player is serving up serious style this month. Aryna Sabalenka has landed on the cover of Vogue, and the internet is absolutely loving it.
But the cover story isn't just about fashion. Sabalenka gets candid about a moment that had the tennis world talking: her 2023 French Open final loss to Coco Gauff. After that heartbreaking 7-6, 2-6, 4-6 defeat, she faced criticism for not giving Gauff enough credit in her post-match press conference.
Fast forward to now, and Sabalenka is reflecting on that firestorm. She told Vogue that when she arrived at Wimbledon last year, her first press conference was packed. “I was like, ‘Wow, guys, are you expecting more of the French Open?’” she recalled. But she and Gauff patched things up, even making a TikTok video together. “Coco is one of those girls who understands everything,” Sabalenka said. “She never gets upset or offended. If you say you’re sorry, she’s like, ‘Oh, girl, it’s okay. You’re good.’ No one will understand you better than another athlete.”
Sabalenka’s competitive fire is unmistakable. “I feel like all of us think, Okay, I should win every match. If you’re not thinking that way, then what are you doing? When you’re in the top five and you’re winning Grand Slams, it’s not okay to be okay with losing. That’s my mentality.”
The cover itself has sparked a frenzy on Instagram. Her fiancé, Georgios Frangulis, commented, “You rock meu amor. Lucky me.” Actress Eiza Gonzalez chimed in with “This is wow babes.” Fans went wild, with one calling her “Elegantly Exhilarating and Charismatically Captivating,” and another simply writing, “Omggggg yessss!!!!!! Love this!!!!! Congrats!!! You look gorgeous.”
On the court, Sabalenka is looking to bounce back. After a stellar Sunshine Double, she stumbled in the Madrid Open quarterfinals against Hailey Baptiste. Then at the Italian Open, Sorana Cirstea edged her in a three-set thriller. “Felt like my body was limiting me from performing on the highest level,” Sabalenka admitted. “She stepped in and played incredible tennis. Didn’t really give me much opportunities. … But I guess we never lose, we only learn, so it’s okay.”
Sabalenka’s next big goal is clear: winning her first French Open title. And with her powerful game and newfound perspective, she's a dangerous contender. For more on the world of tennis, check out other sports stars making headlines.
