Aryna Sabalenka, fresh off her quarterfinal win at the Australian Open, is already thinking ahead about what would happen if she clinches the title. After securing a 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 victory over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the quarterfinals, Sabalenka opened up about an idea that she had inspired by Elena Rybakina’s coach, Stefano Vukov. Vukov famously got a tiger tattoo after Rybakina’s historic Wimbledon victory, a symbolic gesture of their success.
In a post-match interview, Sabalenka revealed that she would like her entire team to get matching tiger tattoos if she were to win the Australian Open, as a way to commemorate the achievement. She expressed that she admired Vukov’s gesture and thought it would be a fun and meaningful tradition for her own team to carry forward if they go all the way.
The 26-year-old began the 2025 tennis season with a bang by winning the Brisbane International, where she triumphed over Polina Kudermetova in the final with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 scoreline. Sabalenka’s strong performance continued as she progressed to the semifinals of the Australian Open, where she is set to face Paula Badosa on January 23.
Before the Australian Open, Sabalenka spoke about her mindset in an interview ahead of the Brisbane International, noting her confidence in her ability to dominate at Grand Slam tournaments. She emphasized her intense focus on the Australian Open, adding that her team’s cohesion and support play a crucial role in her mindset.
As she moves closer to her goal of winning another Grand Slam, Sabalenka’s playful yet determined approach to the idea of matching tattoos shows the close bond she shares with her team and how deeply they are all invested in her success. If she lifts the trophy in Melbourne, it seems likely that her team will indeed be commemorating the victory with some permanent ink!
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