Aryna Sabalenka Shares Behind-the-Scenes Moments from TIME Magazine Cover Shoot

Special Moments from the TIME Cover Shoot Aryna Sabalenka, the world’s top-ranked female tennis player and four-time Grand Slam champion, recently starred in a cover shoot for the prestigious TIME magazine’s September issue. In a series of photos she shared on Instagram, Sabalenka is seen wearing a sleek black Gucci swimsuit as she strolls across an outdoor tennis court at her South Florida home. The images reveal a different side of the athlete—not just a fierce competitor on the court, but also a confident, stylish woman.

Sabalenka walks in low heels, her hands resting on a basketball hoop net, smiling broadly with a relaxed and joyful expression. The shoot captures a lighthearted and enjoyable atmosphere, striking a balance between the seriousness she brings to competition and her personal, human side off the court. In the accompanying interview, Sabalenka opens up about how she manages her professional career alongside her private life.

Balancing Sport and Life Off the Court In her TIME interview, Sabalenka candidly discussed the challenges and importance of maintaining balance between the demanding world of professional tennis and her personal life. “I want to be remembered as a fierce fighter on the court, but also as a fun, balanced person off it,” she said. She emphasized a message especially aimed at young people and kids—that the path to success doesn’t have to be one-dimensional, filled only with training and pressure, but should also include time for personal life and enjoyment.

“You don’t have to be 100% focused on goals all the time,” she added. “If you give everything, one day it might break you.” This insight comes from Sabalenka’s own experience dealing with intense pressure throughout her career, including tough losses at major tournaments.

Coping with Defeats and Preparing for the US Open During 2026, Sabalenka faced some disappointing defeats, such as her quarterfinal exit at Wimbledon after losing to Naomi Osaka and a loss to world No. 19 Ekaterina Alexandrova at the Canadian Open. After Wimbledon, Sabalenka shared that she took a short break in Greece, where she enjoyed a vacation filled with dancing, light cocktails, and a few days away from the pressures of the tennis world.

“I don’t drink to get drunk,” she explained, “but I had the chance to unwind a bit, dance, sip on espresso martinis, and enjoy the Aegean Sea. It helped me recharge before returning to training.” This vacation is part of her strategy to maintain mental and physical balance, which seems to play a key role in her success.

Now, Sabalenka’s full focus is on the US Open in New York this September, where she aims to claim the title for the third consecutive time. Achieving this would further cement her status as one of the best and most influential tennis players in the world today, reflecting a blend of top-level professionalism, strong personality, and the ability to handle immense pressure.

Sabalenka continues to be a living example of an athlete who successfully combines sporting excellence with a fulfilling personal life, sending a clear message that true success is not just about trophies and stats but also about taking care of yourself along the way.