Who is Aryna Sabalenka?
Aryna Sabalenka is a Belarusian professional tennis star currently ranked world No. 1 in singles (WTA). In 2025, she successfully defended her U.S. Open title, becoming the first woman since Serena Williams to win back-to-back U.S. Opens. Known for her blistering serves, aggressive baseline play, and mental resilience, she has also surprised fans by revealing that a recent facial scan showed sun damage consistent with a 55-year-old – prompting renewed attention to her skincare routine. Sabalenka is the significance of her left forearm tattoo – a growling tiger which earned her the nickname “The Tiger” and represents her on-court ferocity, a style she developed after her father’s encouragement to try the sport on a whim as a child.
Key Information
| Field | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Aryna Siarhiejeŭna Sabalenka |
| Nickname | The Tiger, Sabalenka |
| Profession | Professional Tennis Player |
| Known For | Powerful serve & aggressive play; Grand Slam champion; Reigning U.S. Open champion |
| Age | 27 years (born 5 May 1998) |
| Date of Birth | 5 May 1998 |
| Zodiac Sign | Taurus |
| Years Active | Turned pro in 2015 |
| Hometown | Minsk, Belarus |
| Current Residence | Minsk, Belarus (frequently travels globally) |
| Religion | Not publicly confirmed |
| Nationality | Belarusian |
| Educational Qualification | Not publicly documented |
| Hobbies | Fitness, training, recovery routines, social media / mental wellness expression |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Husband | NA |
| Children | None |
Early Life & Education
Aryna Sabalenka was born on 5 May 1998 in Minsk, Belarus. She began playing tennis at a young age and trained in Belarusian youth programs, showing early talent in power strokes and on-court aggression. Details about her formal education are not widely publicized, she moved early into full-time tennis training to pursue a professional career. Her childhood environment emphasized athletic discipline, and she gradually emerged through junior circuits before turning pro in 2015.
Her early coaches instilled a philosophy that could be boiled down to, “You have to work hard. Only tennis. Only tennis.” She began competing on the ITF Women’s Circuit in 2012, even before fully competing on the junior circuit, demonstrating an early start to her professional ambitions.
Physical Appearance
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Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.82 m)
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Weight: Not officially listed in recent sources
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Eye Colour: Dark (brown/black)
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Hair Colour: Dark (brown / black)
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Tattoos: None publicly documented
Career Journey
Early Years
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She turned professional in 2015.
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Over the years, she steadily climbed rankings through WTA tournaments and Grand Slams, known for her powerful serve and aggressive baseline play.
Major Milestones & Recent Successes
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In 2023 and 2024, she captured Australian Open titles (defended in 2024) and multiple high-level WTA tournaments.
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In 2025, she won the Brisbane International title to start the year strongly.
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In 2025 U.S. Open, she defeated Amanda Anisimova in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6(3), to win her fourth Grand Slam title and become the first woman in over a decade (since Serena Williams) to win back-to-back U.S. Opens.
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Also in 2025, she claimed the Miami Open title with a dominant win over Jessica Pegula, adding to her WTA 1000 tally.
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However, not every tournament was flawless – in 2025 Stuttgart, unseeded Jelena Ostapenko upset Sabalenka in the final, 6–4, 6–1.
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She also had a signature moment at the French Open, where she defeated WTA legend Iga Świątek in the semifinal, ending Świątek’s 26-match unbeaten streak, and advanced to the final.
Style, Strengths, & Awards
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Sabalenka is known for her heavy serve, powerful groundstrokes, and aggressive baseline play.
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Her serve can reach speeds that push aces, making it one of her key weapons.
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At times she has struggled with double faults due to her high-risk serving style.
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She has rapidly become one of the most marketable players, signing top endorsements and appearing in media projects.
- She retained the WTA World No. 1 ranking for the entirety of 2025 (as of September 2025) and was named the International Tennis Federation’s World Champion in 2023.
Relationships
Professional tennis player Aryna Sabalenka has endured significant personal tragedies and is currently in a relationship with Brazilian entrepreneur Georgios Frangulis.
Current Relationship
- Georgios Frangulis: Sabalenka began dating Frangulis in early 2024, and he has been a consistent presence in her player’s box at tournaments.
- Support through grief: Sabalenka has spoken openly about how Frangulis helped her through the difficult period following her ex-boyfriend’s death, stating, “There was a really tough period where I was really happy to have him by my side, always cheering me up”.
- Oakberry partnership: In addition to supporting her courtside, Frangulis is the founder of the açaí superfood brand Oakberry, for which Sabalenka became a brand ambassador in early 2024.
Previous Relationship
- Konstantin Koltsov: Sabalenka previously dated former Belarusian ice hockey player Konstantin Koltsov.
- Tragic death: Koltsov died in March 2024 in an apparent suicide, with the Miami-Dade Police Department confirming he had jumped from a hotel balcony.
- Heartbroken statement: Though the couple was no longer together at the time of his death, Sabalenka issued a statement saying, “Konstantin’s death is an unthinkable tragedy, and while we were no longer together, my heart is broken”.
Family Tragedies
Father’s death: Sabalenka’s family has also dealt with the loss of her father, Sergey, who was an ice hockey player. He died of meningitis in 2019 at the age of 43.
Channeling grief: Following her father’s passing, Sabalenka committed to her tennis career with a renewed sense of purpose. She has said her father’s memory and her family’s pride motivate her to win.
Family Background
| Relation | Name / Details |
|---|---|
| Father | Sergey Sabalenka – Former professional ice hockey player; passed away in 2019 at age 43 from meningitis. He was Aryna’s greatest inspiration, and she has often mentioned that her drive to win Grand Slam titles comes from fulfilling the dreams they shared together. |
| Mother | Yulia Sabalenka – A constant pillar of support. Yulia is occasionally seen cheering for Aryna from the player’s box during major tournaments.
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| Brother(s) | None |
| Sister | Tonechka Sabalenka – Aryna’s younger sister, 11 years her junior. Though she keeps a low profile, Aryna has mentioned her affectionately in interviews and on social media. |
| Husband | Unmarried – Aryna Sabalenka is currently single. |
| Children | None – She does not have any children, but in January 2025, Aryna revealed in an interview that she hopes to have a child in the future and plans to return to tennis afterward, making it clear she has no plans to retire anytime soon. |
Controversies
- French Open Final Comments (June 2025): Following her loss to Coco Gauff in the 2025 Roland Garros final, Sabalenka initially made controversial remarks suggesting Gauff didn’t win because she played incredible tennis, but rather because Sabalenka herself made too many unforced errors. This drew criticism from fans and experts. She later issued an apology, admitting her comments were “completely unprofessional” and that she “let my emotions get the better of me.”
- Wimbledon Hindrance Incident (July 2025): In her semi-final loss to Amanda Anisimova at Wimbledon, controversy erupted when Anisimova yelled out in celebration before the point was over, an act that could legally be considered a ‘hindrance.’ Sabalenka became “p***ed off” and “really angry” after the chair umpire only issued a verbal warning. Sabalenka also criticized Anisimova for not apologizing for a lucky net cord winner later in the match, which drew criticism from some fans on social media for her on-court behavior.
- “Neutral” Athlete Status: Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine in 2022, Belarusian and Russian players, including Sabalenka, have been required to compete as “neutrals” on the WTA Tour, without displaying their national flag. This ongoing situation remains a point of discussion in the tennis world.
Net Worth
- Estimated Net Worth: As of August 2025, her estimated earnings total $27.4 million (Forbes), with a net worth estimated around $18-$18.7 million (other sources).
- Main Sources of Income:
- Tournament Prize Money: Her career prize money totals over $42.3 million USD, the 4th highest in all-time rankings. Her winnings in 2025 are reported as $12.4 million.
- Endorsements: She earns an estimated $15 million from endorsements. Her major sponsors include Nike, Wilson, Audemars Piguet, Master & Dynamic, Whoop, and Oakberry.
- Investments: She is an investor in brands like Beekeeper’s Naturals and Olipop.
Social Media Presence
| Platform | Handle | Followers |
|---|---|---|
| @sabalenka_aryna | 3.8+ Million | |
| Twitter / X | SabalenkaA | 185.4K |
| arynasabalenka | 145k |
Lesser Known Facts about Aryna Sabalenka
- Her signature tattoo, the growling tiger, is not just a style choice; it gave her the famous nickname “The Tiger” and perfectly encapsulates her aggressive, “go-for-broke” mentality on the court.
- She had a relatively late start on the high-level international junior tennis circuit, instead competing mostly in U14 and U16 Tennis Europe events early on. She never even played in the junior Grand Slam tournaments.
- Despite her incredible power, she has publicly admitted to dealing with significant mental pressure, once saying after a loss that the feeling is so bad “you want to die, you don’t want to exist anymore,” showcasing her raw emotional commitment to winning.
- She made a successful return to the WTA Tour after a break and a slight injury layoff following her US Open title, admitting that getting her rhythm back was challenging in her first match at the Wuhan Open.
Latest Updates
- Current Location: Wuhan, China (Competing in the Wuhan Open).
- Ongoing Projects: Aryna Sabalenka is currently competing in the Dongfeng · Voyah Wuhan Open 2025 (October 6-12). As of October 10, 2025, she has reached the semifinals, defeating Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinal, and is set to face Jessica Pegula next.
- Upcoming Project: Following the Wuhan Open, she is expected to compete in the WTA Finals in Riyadh, where she will aim to conclude her dominant season.
FAQs
Q1. What is Aryna Sabalenka’s age?
She is 27 years old, born on 5 May 1998.
Q2. Is Aryna Sabalenka married?
No, she is currently unmarried and has no children.
Q3. Who are Aryna Sabalenka’s parents?
Her father was Sergey Sabalenka (ice hockey player, deceased 2019) and her mother is Yulia Sabalenka.
Q4. What is Aryna Sabalenka’s net worth in 2025?
Estimated between $18.7 million and $27.4 million USD.
Q5. What are Aryna Sabalenka’s biggest career achievements?
Two-time Australian Open Champion, two-time US Open Champion, and multiple WTA 1000 titles.
Q6. Has Aryna Sabalenka been involved in any controversies?
No major controversies; she is admired for her candor and professionalism.
Q7. What is Aryna Sabalenka known for beyond tennis?
Her advocacy for mental health, body positivity, and athlete self-care.
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