World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is making waves off the court as she prepares to return to action this week. The Belarusian star posted a series of stunning swimsuit photos on Instagram, sending fans into a frenzy just days before the National Bank Open kicks off in Toronto.
Sabalenka, who hasn't played since a disappointing fourth-round loss to Naomi Osaka at Wimbledon on July 5, captioned the post, “See you later Miami. Hello Toronto.” The photos, taken during a sunny getaway, show the two-time US Open champion relaxing in style, and her followers were quick to shower her with praise.
“You’re perfect,” one fan commented, while another called her “Our diva.” A third admirer wrote, “So gorgeous. Can’t wait to see you on the court.”
The 28-year-old’s 2026 season has been a mixed bag. She claimed titles at Indian Wells and Miami, but her Grand Slam results have been far below expectations. After falling to Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open final, she suffered a shock quarterfinal loss to Diana Shnaider at the French Open, followed by the Wimbledon exit to Osaka.
Speaking after that loss, Sabalenka was candid about her form: “I mean, let’s just look at the rankings. So, by now, I’m world No. 1. Level-wise, today, I wasn’t world No. 1. Yesterday, I was world No. 1… I don’t even want to think about ranking at this point. I just want to go get completely drunk, forget about tennis, and try to get in better shape.”
Now, with a fresh mindset and a new city ahead, Sabalenka is set to headline the WTA 1000 event in Toronto as the top seed. The tournament begins this weekend, and all eyes will be on her to see if she can recapture the form that made her a two-time major champion.
Sabalenka’s recent social media activity has drawn comparisons to other athletes who’ve shown off their off-court style, such as Danica Patrick’s recent European swimsuit shots and Sophie Cunningham’s daring white swimsuit snap. But for Sabalenka, the focus remains on tennis.
The pressure is mounting ahead of the US Open, where she is the defending champion and heavy favorite. If she can channel the confidence from her Instagram post into her game, she should have no trouble making a deep run in Toronto and beyond. However, a failure to win in New York would leave her without a Grand Slam title in 2026, a drought she hasn’t experienced since 2022.
With the hard-court season underway, Sabalenka has a chance to silence her critics and prove she’s still the queen of the tour. Her first test comes in Toronto, and fans are eagerly awaiting her return.
