Tennis superstar Aryna Sabalenka commands order both on and off the court.

Comme des Garçons jacket, comme-des-garcons.com; Montce bathing suit, montce.com; Audemars Piguet watch, audemarspiguet.com; Roberto Coin tennis bracelet, ring and cuff, robertocoin.com. photographed by JOHN RUSSO

Being the No.1 tennis player in the world is a feat that only a handful of names in history can ever achieve. At 26 years old, tennis phenom Aryna Sabalenka (@arynasabalenka) has joined this exclusive club through both talent and grit. If you’ve watched her dominate the courts over the past few years, you’ve likely seen a fierce, unstoppable force in action, making her one of the most exciting players in history. But beyond her powerful serve and aggressive playing style, there’s a lot more to Sabalenka than meets the eye. From her self-discipline to her love of fashion, and even her penchant for unwinding in unexpected ways, Sabalenka offers a fascinating look at what it takes to thrive in the demanding world of professional sports while maintaining a balanced lifestyle. We got to chat with her before she embarked on her 2025 season while she was home in Miami.

Bode cardigan, bode.com; Polo Ralph Lauren bathing suit, ralphlauren.com; Audemars Piguet watch, audemarspiguet.com; Roberto Coin tennis bracelet, ring and cuff, robertocoin.com. photographed by JOHN RUSSO

“I keep myself disciplined by setting goals. I believe the only way you’ll reach your goals is through hard work, dedication and trust in yourself.”–ARYNA SABALENKA

Bode cardigan, bode.com; Polo Ralph Lauren bathing suit, ralphlauren.com; Audemars Piguet watch, audemarspiguet.com; Roberto Coin tennis bracelet, ring and cuff, robertocoin.com. photographed by JOHN RUSSO

What are your top tips for keeping yourself healthy and fit while balancing such a demanding schedule and traveling?

I drink a lot of water, focus on a good recovery and constantly work out. Given my current schedule, it’s also important for me to have fun with my friends when I have free time.

What are your ultimate travel hacks?

The ultimate travel hack is skincare. It’s become a must for me on every flight. My go-to is the Biodance Bio-Collagen Real Deep face masks. I swear by them!

Missoni dress, missoni.com; Audemars Piguet watch, audemarspiguet.com; Doves by Doran Paloma ring, dovesjewelry.com; Roberto Coin cuff and tennis bracelet, robertocoin.com. photographed by JOHN RUSSO

How do you keep yourself disciplined?

I keep myself disciplined by setting goals. I believe the only way you’ll reach your goals is through hard work, dedication and trust in yourself. I also have a great team around me that keeps me accountable. They motivate me to continue showing up no matter what.

What do you do to unwind?

My favorite way to unwind is to go shopping. It’s my way of relieving any stress. I also love to dance and make TikToks in my free time.

Missoni dress, missoni.com; Audemars Piguet watch, audemarspiguet.com; Doves by Doran Paloma ring, dovesjewelry.com; Roberto Coin cuff and tennis bracelet, robertocoin.com. photographed by JOHN RUSSO

Do you have any pre-match rituals?

I like to stay calm and relaxed before the match. Sometimes, we play Uno as a team and, of course, have a pre-match meal with the group.

What made you move to Miami?

The main reason I moved to Miami is the city’s energy. Miami is absolutely beautiful and a peaceful place to practice tennis.

“I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT MIAMI! IT’S A CITY THAT HAS EVERYTHING YOU COULD NEED, FROM GREAT SHOPPING TO GOOD FOOD, THE BEACH, ART AND PARTIES.”–ARYNA SABALENKA

Bode cardigan, bode.com; Polo Ralph Lauren bathing suit, ralphlauren.com; Audemars Piguet watch, audemarspiguet.com; Roberto Coin tennis bracelet, ring and cuff, robertocoin.com. photographed by JOHN RUSSO

What do you love most about the city?

I love everything about Miami! It’s a city that has everything you could need, from great shopping to good food, the beach, art and parties. Whatever you want to do, you can find it here.

When you’re in town, where can we find you?

When I’m in Miami, you can find me in Bal Harbour (shopping and unwinding) or eating at one of my favorite restaurants—either Casadonna, Houston’s or Makoto.

Dolce & Gabbana top, dolcegabbana.com; Montce bikini bottom, montce.com; Audemars Piguet watch, audemarspiguet.com; Roberto Coin tennis bracelet, cuff and ring, robertocoin.com. photographed by JOHN RUSSO

You work with some amazing brands in the luxury sphere, such as Audemars Piguet. What drew you to a brand like this? What do you value most in your partnership?

My partnership with Audemars Piguet has been special to me, given how much I have always loved watches. And with AP, they have the most luxurious and impressive watch collections I have ever seen. I value the way the brand and team treat me like family—I guarantee you will never find it anywhere else. I’m so excited to be part of the AP family, and I want to make sure I am representing them in the best way possible. I’m very excited for what’s to come in 2025!

Dolce & Gabbana top, dolcegabbana.com; Montce bikini bottom, montce.com; Audemars Piguet watch, audemarspiguet.com; Roberto Coin tennis bracelet, cuff and ring, robertocoin.com. photographed by JOHN RUSSO

What are some brands you’d love to collaborate with?

Fashion is a space I would love to grow into more. I have attended runway shows for brands including Off-White and Altuzarra and loved supporting their collections. It would be fun to collaborate with these brands on a larger scale.

You are stylish both on and off the court. What are some of your favorite brands, and who inspires your sense of style?

The list is long, but if I had to shout out a few, I have been loving Miu Miu, Saint Laurent, The Row, LOEWE and Acne Studios recently. It’s hard to choose, though. In terms of who inspires my sense of style, I’ve been looking at a few of my peers in my industry and social media to see the up-and-coming trends.

Dior top and skirt, dior.com; Audemars Piguet watch, audemarspiguet.com; Roberto Coin tennis bracelet and cuff, robertocoin.com (left hand); Doves by Doran Paloma ring and bracelet, dovesjewelry.com (right hand); Etro sunglasses, etro.com; her own necklace. photographed by JOHN RUSSO

Outside of tennis, what are some of your greatest interests/hobbies?

Lately, I’ve been getting into photography and shooting with Fujifilm. I also love to dance, and when I have the time, I would love to set up some dance classes. With how much I have to travel for my job, I love trying new restaurants in every city. And, of course, I love to shop!

What is something people may not know about you?

I have emotions both on and off the court. Sometimes, I reminisce on my childhood, and after tough matches, I head home and cry for a bit. It’s very cathartic for me.

Dior top and skirt, dior.com; Audemars Piguet watch, audemarspiguet.com; Roberto Coin tennis bracelet and cuff, robertocoin.com (left hand); Doves by Doran Paloma ring and bracelet, dovesjewelry.com (right hand); Etro sunglasses, etro.com; her own necklace. photographed by JOHN RUSSO

What do you hope to accomplish this year, both personally and professionally?

I hope to continue growing both personally and professionally and strive to accomplish more within myself each and every day, whether that’s tennis, dancing or photography. It’s very rewarding to look back at the end of the year and see how much I have improved in all aspects of my life.

Best piece of advice to stay motivated?

I constantly remind myself that good things always come your way after you fail. You have to learn from your mistakes and work to move on. There is no need to stay in the past because you can’t change it; you can only learn from it and grow.

Dior top and skirt, dior.com; Audemars Piguet watch, audemarspiguet.com; Roberto Coin tennis bracelet and cuff, robertocoin.com (left hand); Doves by Doran Paloma ring and bracelet, dovesjewelry.com (right hand); Etro sunglasses, etro.com; her own necklace. photographed by JOHN RUSSO

---