World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka has revealed a rare moment of vulnerability after admitting she was star-struck at the Laureus World Sports Awards, where she was named Sportswoman of the Year.
Fresh from her Australian Open success, Sabalenka received one of the most prestigious honours in sport, sharing the spotlight with fellow tennis star Carlos Alcaraz, who also collected a top individual award. The double win highlighted tennis’ strong presence at the ceremony, marking a rare clean sweep for the sport.
Sabalenka said seeing her name alongside past winners and global sporting icons left her in disbelief. She described the experience as overwhelming, especially being surrounded by legendary athletes, including gymnast Simone Biles. The atmosphere, she said, made her emotional and briefly speechless during her acceptance moment.
Despite her reputation for intensity on court, Sabalenka admitted she struggled to compose herself at the event, joking that she even considered disappearing after her speech. The moment highlighted a different side of the usually confident competitor, who is known for her aggressive playing style and strong on-court presence.
Her attention has since shifted back to competition at the Madrid Open, where she is the defending champion. Sabalenka has continued her strong form on clay, including a hard-fought straight-sets win over Peyton Stearns, where she recovered from early breaks in both sets to secure victory.
She is now preparing for her next match against Jaqueline Cristian as she aims to continue her title defence in Madrid, balancing on-court dominance with newfound off-court recognition.
