All posts tagged: Aryna Sabalenka

What was Serena Williams upto during four-year break before Wimbledon return

What was Serena Williams upto during four-year break before Wimbledon return

Published by Webster

4 min readUpdated: Jun 30, 2026 05:08 PM IST Serena Williams is set to return at the Wimbledon 2026 on Tuesday after having officially retired from the sport back in September 2022, but during her time away  from the court, she has accomplished a lot including solidifying her business and philanthropic empire. Earlier this month, Williams had also returned to professional tennis as well when she teamed up with 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko to take on the third-seeded duo Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe at Queen’s Club. Williams and Mboko had won that match but their partnership was cut short when the latter suffered a knee injury that ruled her out of Wimbledon. Here is a year-by-year breakdown of Williams’ accomplishments during her hiatus from Tennis: 2022: Williams shipped her primary focus to ‘Serena Ventures’, the Venture Capital firm, she founded in 2014. She raised a $111 million inaugural fund to invest in early-stage startups, specifically prioritizing women, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and underrepresented founders. The firm boasts over a dozen “unicorn” investments, …

Days after prize money protest, Sabalenka wears jewellery worth Rs 97 lakh on court

Days after prize money protest, Sabalenka wears jewellery worth Rs 97 lakh on court

Published by Webster

3 min readMay 27, 2026 10:27 AM IST World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka walked onto court at Roland Garros wearing jewellery valued at more than £75,000 (approx Rs 97 lakh) — just days after joining leading players in pushing for a larger share of Grand Slam revenues and improved prize money distribution for lower-ranked professionals. The Belarusian, who opened her French Open campaign with a straight-sets win over Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, sported diamond-and-garnet necklaces and earrings reportedly supplied by New York luxury jeweller Material Good. The jewellery was worth more than the prize money earned by players who exited in the first round. Telegraph Sport reported ‘it has provided three necklaces and a pair of earrings worth a total of $148,000 for the tournament’. “Sabalenka elected not to wear the third necklace on court yesterday (Tuesday). The jewellery, which has been designed to coordinate with the Belarusian’s black-and-red Nike dress, includes over 200 carats of garnets and 23 carats of diamonds,” the daily reported. The timing drew attention because the jewellery worn on court was …

‘Only way to fight for our rights’: Aryna Sabalenka warns of Grand Slam boycott ahead of French Open | Tennis News

‘Only way to fight for our rights’: Aryna Sabalenka warns of Grand Slam boycott ahead of French Open | Tennis News

Published by Webster

4 min readMay 6, 2026 07:00 AM IST Aryna Sabalenka has called for tennis players to boycott Grand Slams if they are not paid a higher percentage of the revenue the top tier events on the tennis calendar make. Sabalenka’s comments come on the heels of a letter the top tennis players, both male and female, wrote recently criticising the French Open prize money on offer this year. “I think at some point we will boycott it (Grand Slams),” Sabalenka said on the sidelines of the Italian Open. “I feel like that’s going to be the only way to fight for our rights.” Sabalenka, who turned 28 on Tuesday, has already pocketed four Grand Slams. After her comments, other female tennis players also spoke about them being open to boycotting Grand Slams if they are not paid a higher portion of the prize money. It must be noted that the players had also demanded other things such as better representation, health care benefits and pensions. “Without us there wouldn’t be a tournament and there wouldn’t …

Sabalenka reaches Madrid Open quarters, Zverev pushes through

Sabalenka reaches Madrid Open quarters, Zverev pushes through

Published by Parlour News

World number one Aryna Sabalenka overcame Naomi Osaka 6-7 , 6-3, 6-2 in a gripping battle on Monday to reach the Madrid Open quarter-finals. Sabalenka reaches Madrid Open quarters, Zverev pushes through Third seed Coco Gauff was eliminated in a three-set battle with Linda Noskova decided on a final set tie-break in an exciting fourth-round clash. In the third round of the men’s draw, second seed Alexander Zverev won in straight sets against Terence Atmane and Alexander Blockx earned a surprising win against world number five Felix Auger-Aliassime. Sabalenka, who has claimed titles at Miami, Indian Wells and Brisbane this year, was tested by her Japanese opponent but came back from a set and a break down to triumph. “I’m really happy that I didn’t give up and I was pushing until the very last point,” said Sabalenka on court. She later told reporters: “When put me under pressure, I was able to pull out really incredible shots and incredible tennis. So I’m happy.” The first set between the two four-time Grand Slam winners was …

Jannik Sinner’s magnificent month: After off-colour start to season, Italian completes Sunshine double, chasing No 1 status from Carlos Alcaraz | Tennis News

Jannik Sinner’s magnificent month: After off-colour start to season, Italian completes Sunshine double, chasing No 1 status from Carlos Alcaraz | Tennis News

Published by Webster

5 min readNew DelhiMar 30, 2026 07:01 PM IST The competitive balance in the most important rivalry of present-day men’s tennis has been off-kilter over the past year. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have separated themselves from the chasing pack, but the former has separated himself from the latter, too. With six wins out of eight completed matches against him, Alcaraz has had the Italian’s number. With significant improvements in his game over the last six months, he started 2026 by storming to the Australian Open title and becoming the youngest player to complete the career Grand Slam. If the biggest events in the sport started to feel a bit like the ‘Alcaraz show,’ his rival spent all of March reminding the world why that may not be the case. He may not have got his revenge on Alcaraz – the duo are, surprisingly, yet to face each other this year – but with his routine 6-4, 6-4 demolition of Jiri Lehecka in the Miami Open final on Sunday, Sinner capped off an imperious month …

Real Madrid’s iconic Santiago Bernabeu to turn into tennis arena

Real Madrid’s iconic Santiago Bernabeu to turn into tennis arena

Published by Webster

3 min readMar 25, 2026 08:29 PM IST Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu is set to temporarily shift from football to tennis, turning into a hub of practice courts during the upcoming Madrid Open. According to The New York Times, the stadium will serve as a training venue for the tournament between April 23 and April 30, shortly after the event begins on April 20. The report added that the move leverages the Bernabeu’s close proximity to the players’ hotel, as well as a convenient stretch of away fixtures for Real Madrid, who currently sit second in La Liga. This transformation is made possible by the stadium’s state-of-the-art retractable pitch, a key feature of its $1 billion renovation completed in late 2023. The pitch is split into six large sections that can be stored underground in a controlled environment, allowing the surface above to be repurposed. With the grass safely maintained below, alternative setups—such as clay tennis courts—can be installed on the exposed base. Real Madrid’s schedule plays a crucial role in enabling the plan. The …

‘Job not done yet’: Aryna Sabalenka reacts to reaching her 4th Australian Open final after beating Elina Svitolina in the semis | Tennis News

‘Job not done yet’: Aryna Sabalenka reacts to reaching her 4th Australian Open final after beating Elina Svitolina in the semis | Tennis News

Published by Webster

2 min readJan 29, 2026 05:00 PM IST World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka was cautious about not getting carried away after entering the 2026 Australian Open final with a 6-2 6-3 straight sets win over Elina Svitolina on Thursday. The 27-year-old Belarusian, who lost to Madison Keys in the 2025 final, admitted that she found it hard to believe that she had become the first player since Martina Hingis in 2002 to reach four consecutive Australian Open finals. “I cannot believe that, it is an incredible achievement. But the job is not done yet. I am super happy with the win, she (Svitolina) is a great opponent and was playing incredible tennis throughout the week. I am super happy to get through this tough match.” “I have been watching her game and I felt like I had to step in and put as much pressure as I could today. I’m glad that the level was there today. I am happy to get this win in straight sets,” Sabalenka said after the win on Thursday. Ahead …

‘Data is not steroids’: Why Carlos Alcaraz was forced to strip off fitness tracker device at Australian Open 2026 | Tennis News

‘Data is not steroids’: Why Carlos Alcaraz was forced to strip off fitness tracker device at Australian Open 2026 | Tennis News

Published by Webster

Aussie tennis greats slammed the Australian Open organisers after World No.1s, Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka, were barred from wearing the Whoop fitness tracking devices on their wrists ahead of their latest matches at Melbourne Park. In his fourth-round victory over Tommy Paul on Sunday, Alcaraz was spotted wearing the fitness-tracking Whoop watch by chair umpire Marija Cicak, who proceeded to request the Spanish star to remove the device as it was banned at the tournament. While Alcaraz immediately obliged, the on-court exchange did not go down well with Whoop founder, Will Ahmed, as well as former Australian tennis players, Todd Woodbridge and Lleyton Hewitt. Ahmed responded to a social media post to criticise the decision to ask Alcaraz to remove the Whoop tracker. “Ridiculous. Whoop is approved by the International Tennis Federation for in-match wear and poses no safety risk,” Ahmed posted on X. “Let the athletes measure their bodies. Data is not steroids.” Ridiculous. Whoop is approved by the International Tennis Federation for in-match wear and poses no safety risk. Let the athletes …

Aryna Sabalenka explains why Novak Djokovic is still relevant despite emergence of younger players: ‘There is no age anymore in sport’ | Tennis News

Aryna Sabalenka explains why Novak Djokovic is still relevant despite emergence of younger players: ‘There is no age anymore in sport’ | Tennis News

Published by Webster

24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic remains the only player from the ‘Big 3’ today to be actively playing tennis and competing against the best players in the world. The 38-year-old received a big vote of confidence on where he stands with the next generation of players from women’s World Number 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who said that he was still relevant with the younger crop of players. “These guys are legends, GOATs, especially Novak. He’s been developing his game his whole career. Right now, he’s really relevant with the young boys, and he’s playing incredible tennis. I feel like it depends on your physicality and your mentality, and your approach to tennis. He’s very healthy, fit, focuses. At this age, he’s playing incredible tennis,” Sabalenka said in a press conference on Friday. Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a backhand return to Pedro Martinez of Spain during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne. (AP Photo) The Belarusian further said that she felt that age was not as big a factor …

Can Iga Swiatek create history at Australian Open by becoming the 11th woman to complete the Grand Slam? | Tennis News

Can Iga Swiatek create history at Australian Open by becoming the 11th woman to complete the Grand Slam? | Tennis News

Published by Webster

She plays with the weight of history behind her; triumph at Melbourne Park would make her the 11th woman in the game’s history to complete the Grand Slam: the elusive achievement of winning at least one title at each of the four Majors. Swiatek, as all pros in her position ought to do, coolly played it off. “I’m still young. I have plenty of time to do different things and achieve different goals in my career,” she said during her pre-tournament press conference. “I really don’t need to put that pressure on myself to do something in the next two weeks.” Since Don Budge achieved the feat over 90 years ago, only 18 singles players have managed the Grand Slam. 2026 sees the prospect of three more doing so, and while Jannik Sinner will have to wait for the French Open, both Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz can break the barrier in Melbourne itself. In a sport obsessed with pitting landmarks against landmarks, this is the real marker of greatness. The magnitude of reaching it, and …