Aryna Sabalenka has posted herself getting ready for the new clay court season in one of her first updates in a while after a tragic few weeks. Sabalenka will be one of the leading lights at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix next week in Stuttgart which she has reached the final in the last few editions but always lost out.
In particular last year, she was defeated by Iga Swiatek and hilariously mimicked putting her runners-up trophy through the window of Swiatek’s new Porsche. Another Porsche will be on offer next week and for Sabalenka, she will hope to get back towards normality as much as she can after a tough few weeks. She was last seen at the Miami Open losing out to Anhelina Kalinina in a tournament that she played despite the passing of her ex-boyfriend, Konstantin Koltsov. She said in a statement after his apparent suicide that they were no longer together when he passed.
But Sabalenka herself only played the Miami Open days after his passing and snubbed doing any sort of media in the run-up and during the tournament to avoid obvious questioning. Other players including her best friend, Paula Badosa and Caroline Wozniacki were among those questioned. Whether this continues with a slew of top tournaments on the horizon remains to be seen. But Sabalenka at least is ready to return to action next week and is seemingly putting the hours in.
Aryna Sabalenka getting into clay mode.
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— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) April 9, 2024