Grand Slam champion and WTA World No. 2 tennis star Aryna Sabalenka was a spectator at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
Sabalenka’s look in Abu Dhabi comes at a time when she is not collaborating in the last tournaments of the Asian swing because she is getting ready for the WTA Finals.
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She drew thunderous applause when pictured on digital camera.
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Smiling Sabalenka despite mispronounced title
Aug 8, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Aryna Sabalenka returns a ball to Ekaterina Alexandrova (not pictured) during the fourth spherical at the National Bank Open at Sobeys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Sabalenka laughed off the announcer mispronouncing her last title “Sabalenko.”
It is great to see the lighthearted facet of Sabalenka. By her requirements, she did not play her best tennis in the summer season or fall. During that time, Elena Rybakina overtook her World No. 1 rating.
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WTA Finals could give Sabalenka large increase
If her confidence is wavering, profitable the WTA Finals for the first time in her profession would be the much needed increase Sabalenka could use.
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The truth that this yr’s WTA Finals are at Indian Wells, and Sabalenka won Indian Wells this yr makes her a favourite to win the occasion along with defending WTA Finals and former Indian Wells champion Rybakina.
A subplot to this yr’s WTA Finals will be the expected friction between Sabalenka and Russian Mirra Andreeva with their Ukrainian peer Elina Svitolina. Svitolina does not shake fingers or work together with Belarusian and Russian gamers. In the small setting of eight gamers with two alternates, that could be produce awkward moments.
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