Tennis Goddess Aryna Sabalenka, 27, Ditches Workout Clothes for Red Carpet Glam and Blows Everyone Away
Aryna Sabalenka is one of the best tennis players in the world, but she's a rare sight on a red carpet.
The Belarusian tennis player, 27, who has won four Grand Slam titles and is currently the top-ranked female tennis player in the world, ditched her workout clothes and tennis racket for an evening gown to attend the Laureus World Sports Awards 2026 at Cibeles Palace this week in Madrid, Spain. Seeing as the star has a bevy of fans who watch her every move with bated breath, it's no surprise that they were blown away at the sight of Sabalenka looking more glam than ever in a one-sleeve gown on the red carpet.
Sabalenka Just Hit the Cover of Esquire
Just last week, the tennis queen hit the cover of Esquire and gave a revealing interview inside, in which she opened up about how her father introduced her to tennis at age six. When asked what he taught her, Sabalenka said, "To stay strong no matter what, to be positive no matter what, to have fun in life no matter what. He didn't realize he was being a good example, because he was also facing a lot of ups and downs. He was always fighting, and that's why I have a really strong fighting spirit on the court."
Sadly, her father died unexpectedly in 2019. Sabalenka said tennis was her saving grace at that time ("If not for tennis, I don't know where I would be right now"), but also emphasized the importance of taking the time to actually grieve the devastating loss.
"Going through loss, it's important to do your work, keep yourself distracted. At the same time, it's important to grieve, to cry, to go through the emotions. Never hold it inside, because it'll destroy you from the inside. I was letting it go, but I was able to go on the court and practice," she shared.
As for what she'd be doing if she weren't a tennis player, Sabalenka says she'd like to get a few punches in in the boxing ring, or maybe on the runway.
"Boxing or maybe modeling. Maybe model size plus. I would be good," she shared.
Check out the star's stunning shot on the cover of Esquire below:
Related: Serena Williams Shared Rare Photos of Her Young Daughters, and They're Absolutely Adorable
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This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 11:40 AM.