The sting of her Australian Open loss to Madison Keys, which denied her a coveted treble, still lingers for Aryna Sabalenka. However, as the world No. 1 heads into the Sunshine Double, she has reason to be optimistic. With an opportunity to gain valuable ranking points—defending fewer than her rivals—Sabalenka has a strong chance to solidify her position. Despite never having won titles in Indian Wells or Miami, the Belarusian will enter as the top seed. The newly adjusted surface, designed to make the courts in California slightly faster, could also play to her advantage. As she seeks her first title of 2025, she does so on a high note, having reached an important milestone just ahead of the tournament.
250 Weeks in the Top 10
This week marks Sabalenka’s 250th week in the WTA Top 10. After an initial 25-week stint in 2019, the “Tiger of Minsk” returned to the elite rankings on November 16, 2020, and has remained there for an impressive 225 consecutive weeks. Among these, she has spent the most time ranked No. 2 (91 weeks), followed by No. 1 (28 weeks). Notably, she has secured the top ranking at least until the conclusion of the Sunshine Double, as Iga Świątek, even with back-to-back titles, cannot surpass her.
A Star Off the Court
Despite the ranking milestone, Sabalenka appears unfazed by the numbers. She recently attended the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, dazzling in a stunning outfit and capturing selfies with celebrities like Paris Hilton and Anna Kendrick. She wasn’t the only tennis star on the red carpet—Serena Williams and Coco Gauff also made notable appearances.
Another highlight of Sabalenka’s week is her nomination for the “Sportswoman of the Year” award at the 2025 Laureus Awards. She joins an elite group of nominees, including Simone Biles, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Faith Kipyegon, Sifan Hassan, and Aitana Bonmatí. Meanwhile, fellow tennis star Carlos Alcaraz is among the nominees for “Sportsman of the Year,” alongside Leon Marchand, Max Verstappen, Mondo Duplantis, and Tadej Pogačar. Jannik Sinner was initially a candidate but later had his nomination withdrawn.
Red carpet ready for last night’s @VanityFair #VFOscars party 🫶✨🥂 pic.twitter.com/WTW6lOOgF7
— Sabalenka Aryna (@SabalenkaA) March 3, 2025
Exhibition With Naomi Osaka in Vegas
On the tennis front, Sabalenka recently participated in The MGM Rewards Slam, an exhibition match in Las Vegas, where she faced Naomi Osaka. The Belarusian, who signed with Osaka’s sports management agency, Evolve, earlier this season, secured a 6-4, 6-4 victory. However, the standout moment of the match was her flawless underarm serve in the second set, showcasing her flair and creativity on the court.
As Indian Wells approaches, Sabalenka looks poised to continue her dominance, balancing her off-court glamour with her on-court prowess. With momentum on her side, she is ready to chase her first title of the season and further cement her legacy at the top of the game.
Aryna Sabalenka hit a PERFECT under arm serve against Naomi Osaka during the MGM Rewards Slam.
The reaction 😂
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) March 2, 2025
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
