In a swimsuit, on a basketball court: Aryna Sabalenka is "just going with the flow"
Ahead of the US Open, Aryna Sabalenka graced the cover of Time magazine and took part in a striking photo session. The Belarusian tennis player shared behind-the-scenes images from the set, where she posed on a basketball court.
Ahead of the US Open, which kicks off at the end of the month, Aryna Sabalenka graced the cover of the prestigious Time magazine and took part in a special photo session, including shots on a basketball court wearing a swimsuit and heels.
The Belarusian tennis player, who was surprised in the round of 16 of the Toronto tournament by Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova, overcame the disappointment through the photo shoot and shared some pictures from the set, including one where she hung on the rim.
"Just going with the flow... behind the scenes of my cover shoot for Time magazine," Sabalenka wrote on social media.
"Queen in everything you do, we love you," fans raved about the photos. "You look amazing, as always."
In the extensive interview, 28-year-old Sabalenka was presented as "the most fascinating player in tennis." She spoke about her escape from the game after frustrating losses:
"You just forget everything. You try to dance, move your body, and for 30 or 40 minutes, sometimes an hour, you just focus on one thing and don't think about other things. It's like a little escape. After Wimbledon, I danced a little, had a few drinks, but I never get drunk."
She rolls her eyes at criticism: "Sometimes I go into their profile and see how perfect they are. And then I tell myself: 'Bro, fix your life first before you get into other people's lives.'"
Despite a not-so-good Grand Slam season so far, Sabalenka has maintained the top of the world rankings and is one of only 10 players in history to have held the world number one spot for at least 100 weeks, alongside names like Serena Williams, Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, and Chris Evert.
"Being on this list is pretty crazy, — she said. — The further you go, the hunger just grows."
Regarding her image, she said: "I want to be remembered as a fighter on the court, but also as someone cool and fun off it. I think it's important for kids to understand that you need balance. You don't have to be completely focused on your dreams all the time. One day they can destroy you."
