Some players associate the off season with silence, training camps, and rare posts on social media. For Aryna Sabalenka it is the opposite. The world No. 1 spends the break between seasons in such a way that you have to follow it almost as closely as a deciding tie-break at a Grand Slam tournament: flights across half the globe, exhibition matches, television appearances, and constant interaction with fans.
Between the Maldives and Miami: The Star's Schedule
Sabalenka's break began with a short but bright stop in the Maldives, after which the Belarusian headed to Brazil – her boyfriend's home country. Then Sabalenka returned to her usual training base in Miami, where she combined working on her fitness with preparation for exhibition matches and new media activities.
Atlanta: Evolve Agency's Exhibition Tournament
From Miami Aryna flew to Atlanta for a one-day exhibition event organised by her agency Evolve. A star-studded line-up gathered on court: Naomi Osaka, Nick Kyrgios, and Ben Shelton. The format of the evening was light and entertaining – more about the show and interaction with the crowd than about draw sheets and results, yet the level of tennis remained genuinely elite.
Return to New York: Back Under the Madison Square Garden Lights
The next stop on Sabalenka's tour was New York – her first visit to the city since her triumphant US Open win in September. At the legendary Madison Square Garden she once again took part in an exhibition evening, this time with a different set of partners on court: American Tommy Paul took Ben Shelton's place. For Aryna it was a symbolic continuation of a season in which New York had become a key point on her career map.
Late-Night Show: Jokes, Forehead Autographs, and the Battle of the Genders
In the evening Sabalenka appeared once again in the studio of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon – this time not in a pantomime segment, but as the guest of a full talk segment. Aryna admitted that she would never forget her debut at Madison Square Garden, joked that her famous on-court grunts seem to have a life of their own, and described the upcoming Battle of the Sexes against Nick Kyrgios as a win-win situation for her: beating a man is cool, losing to a man is nothing to be ashamed of.
At the end of the conversation the host asked Sabalenka to sign his forehead – almost the same way she once "decorated" the bald head of her fitness coach Jason Stacey. Aryna gladly played along, confirming the image of an athlete who can laugh at herself and feel completely relaxed on camera.
Another detail that drew attention was her fashion-forward approach to the appearance: unlike fellow guest Victoria Beckham, Sabalenka left the studio in a different outfit and headed off to conquer New York further.
Dubai Finale: Exhibition Match With Kyrgios
The main point on her off-season itinerary has already been set – on 28 December Aryna Sabalenka will play an exhibition match against Nick Kyrgios in Dubai. For fans this is not just an exhibition, but a rare opportunity to see a Battle of the Sexes featuring two of the tour's brightest personalities. For Aryna herself it is a logical conclusion to a packed off season in which she has looked equally confident on court and in the spotlight, turning the break between tournaments into yet another stage for a big tennis spectacle.
