Who’s had a better spring than Aryna Sabalenka? She pulled off the so-called Sunshine Double, winning the prestigious tournaments in both Indian Wells and Miami; she sat front row at Gucci in Milan (she was announced as an ambassador for the brand in January); she got engaged; she even got the puppy she’d been asking for.
We had a rare chance recently to sit down with the world number one and talk about her style, her infamous intensity, her hard-won happiness, and how she thinks tennis needs to change. We also talked about her new not-so-secret weapon: the much-whispered-about Wilson Blade v10 racquet, which launches today. (For the uninitiated: Wilson’s Blade series, which debuted two decades ago, is the most-played racquet on the pro tour.)
Vogue: Was the recent Gucci show in Milan your first fashion show?
Aryna Sabalenka: No, I’ve been to several, but not as an ambassador. This one felt special—it seemed like a big moment for Gucci.
Have you been doing more things with them?
We’ve done a couple of shoots already, but everything else is still in progress. We’re definitely coming up with some cool stuff—I’ve already been throwing my ideas at them, and it seems like they’re really accepting them. It’s just a matter of putting it all together and figuring out the timing.
It also seems like you’re having more fun with your style lately—not just the early Gucci peeks that we’ve seen, but in your everyday looks. Is that a conscious change?
I’ve been working with [stylist] Karla Welch, and she’s changed the way I see things a lot. I love fashion, love to get dressed up and have fun, but I feel like my style is more about classic pieces with maybe a little fun detail—it’s kind of like a balance, like a lot of things in my life. But I feel like power is in simplicity. That’s my style.
How do you work with Karla?
She knows everything about me, and we talk a lot, and from time to time we’re messaging each other and I’m like, “Karla, it’s time for some new stuff,” and she just sends a whole suitcase. Sometimes we do fittings, of course, particularly for big events, like a trophy ceremony.
[At this point, we’re joined by the newest addition to Aryna’s traveling team—Ash, the Cavalier King Charles spaniel—who bounds into Aryna’s arms for a big hug as she beams.] How did you end up with this amazing puppy?
I’ve always wanted to have a dog, but it’s really difficult to travel with one on tour. But then I made a deal with my coach [Anton Dubrov] at the US Open last year—because obviously I’d need the help of my team with this: If I win the Open, I get a dog. So I won it. And then I was like, “Okay—we should name him something related to New York.” I won the tournament in Arthur Ashe Stadium, so I decided to call him Ash.
He’s very cute.
He sure is!
Maybe I’m projecting here, but there seems to be more fun and more joy in your game lately, and less angst—or is that just your Instagram that makes me feel this way?
I mean, I’ve struggled a lot, but then at some point I just realized that it’s really important to do stuff that brings you joy and to surround yourself with people who are also fun, who are chill, who are there for you no matter what. When you have the right people, you feel protected, and you feel more relaxed and balanced in life—it’s impossible to feel sad around these people. But my Instagram is like the true me—I’m not faking anything. I’m just trying to show people that it’s possible to have fun being under pressure. I feel like it’s important to send a message to kids that it’s okay to have fun and also be disciplined and work hard. It’s important to have balance. But it’s all real. I have great people around me. [Laughing.] So many good things I’m saying about them—too many, probably! I mean, our jokes are full of sarcasm.
