In the sun-soaked backdrop of the Miami Open on March 31, 2025, a heartwarming scene unfolded that transcended the fierce rivalries of professional tennis. Aryna Sabalenka, fresh off her commanding victory in the women’s singles final, found herself posing for a photo not with a trophy or a teammate, but with the children of Wim Fissette—coach to her on-court nemesis, Iga Swiatek. The moment, captured just after Sabalenka’s 7-5, 6-2 triumph over Jessica Pegula, marked the beginning of an endearing project: a photo collection curated by Fissette’s sons, Arthur and Louis, featuring some of the sport’s biggest stars, including Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, and more. It was a delightful collision of competition and camaraderie, spotlighting the human side of a sport often defined by its intensity.
Sabalenka, the world No. 1 and a three-time Grand Slam champion, had just delivered a masterclass in Miami, her adopted home turf. Her path to the title was a showcase of power and precision, with victories over top-10 players like Zheng Qinwen and Jasmine Paolini, culminating in a final where she dictated play with 22 winners. “It was like Miami was crying that I won this tournament,” she laughed to the crowd, basking in the joy of a flawless run that saw her drop not a single set. Yet, amid the celebration, it was her interaction with Fissette’s boys that stole the spotlight. The kids, armed with a camera and a mission, approached the Belarusian star, who obliged with a wide grin—her fierce on-court persona giving way to a playful warmth.
Fissette, a veteran coach with a storied career guiding players like Naomi Osaka and Kim Clijsters to Grand Slam glory, has been steering Swiatek’s ship since October 2024. His family—wife Jasmien Clijsner and their two sons—often travel with him, turning tournaments into a family affair. This time, Arthur and Louis, dressed in matching tennis gear, decided to embark on a quest to snap pictures with the sport’s luminaries. Sabalenka, despite being Swiatek’s chief rival in a battle that saw them trade the No. 1 ranking throughout 2024, was their first big catch post-final. “I enjoyed playing here, every minute of it,” Sabalenka had said earlier, and her willingness to pose with the boys only amplified that sentiment, bridging the gap between foes on the court and friends off it.
The photo collection didn’t stop with Sabalenka. Word spread quickly, and soon, the boys were adding more tennis royalty to their gallery. Carlos Alcaraz, the charismatic Spaniard with a flair for the dramatic, flashed his trademark smile for the camera. Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam titan, joined in too, his competitive edge softened by the innocence of the moment. Even American stars like Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz, alongside legends like Andy Roddick, found themselves part of this charming initiative. For Arthur and Louis, it was a dream come true—a chance to mingle with the giants they’d watched their father coach or face off against Swiatek. Jasmien, beaming with pride, shared snippets of the growing collection online, her video montage a testament to the kids’ enthusiasm and the players’ good nature.
Swiatek and Sabalenka’s rivalry has been one of the defining narratives of recent tennis seasons. The Pole, a five-time Grand Slam winner, has dominated their head-to-head battles, leading 8-4, with their most epic clash coming in the 2024 Madrid Open final—a three-hour thriller where Swiatek saved three championship points. Yet, off the court, there’s a mutual respect that shines through. “It’s nice to have a competitor like her,” Swiatek said earlier this year, acknowledging how their duels have captivated fans. Sabalenka, now firmly atop the rankings after a stellar 2025 that includes titles in Brisbane and Miami, echoed that sentiment indirectly by embracing this moment with Fissette’s family—a gesture that spoke volumes about the sport’s underlying camaraderie.
For Fissette, who couldn’t attend the final due to his commitments with Swiatek’s training, the sight of his children mingling with Sabalenka must have been bittersweet. His tenure with Swiatek has been marked by deep runs—semifinals at the Australian Open and Qatar Open, a quarterfinal in Miami—but no titles yet in 2025. The Pole, seeded second in Miami, fell to Ons Jabeur in the quarters, her quest for a first trophy under Fissette ongoing. Still, his family’s presence has been a constant, with Arthur and Louis often spotted cheering from the stands or, as in Indian Wells earlier this month, holding signs of support despite her semifinal loss.
This photo project, born from a child’s curiosity, has morphed into a celebration of tennis’s community. As the boys add names to their collection, each snapshot—Sabalenka’s victorious grin, Alcaraz’s playful pose, Djokovic’s stoic charm—tells a story beyond the baseline battles. It’s a reminder that even in a sport of individual glory, connections endure. For Sabalenka, fresh off her Miami triumph, it was a perfect coda to a perfect week—one where she not only conquered the court but won over a couple of young fans who just happen to call her rival’s coach “Dad.”
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