Tennis player Aryna Sabalenka recently stepped into the fashion world, receiving catwalk advice from Irina Shayk, former partner of Cristiano Ronaldo. This follows Sabalenka's recent U.S. Open final loss, where she was defeated by Elena Rybakina in a closely contested three-set match at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
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At 28 years old, Sabalenka faced disappointment after missing the opportunity to secure her fifth Grand Slam title, a defeat that prompted her to react emotionally, breaking her racket and expressing frustration on camera. However, she appears to have moved on, now focusing on a modeling career with Gucci.
In January, Sabalenka announced her partnership with Gucci and made her runway debut during Milan Fashion Week, where she wore a sparkling chocolate-colored turtleneck gown. Before her appearance, she was seen conversing with Shayk, who was engaged to Ronaldo until their split in 2015.
In a backstage clip, Sabalenka mentioned, “I’m learning, I’m learning from the best,” while Shayk rehearsed in a Versace dress. Shayk later shared a photo with Sabalenka on social media, praising her as a runway queen, to which Sabalenka responded with an enthusiastic “Queen.”
Sabalenka has expressed her excitement about working with Gucci, specifically praising the brand's creative director, Demna. She described her partnership with Gucci as a dream come true.
Regarding her tennis career, Sabalenka lost her world No. 1 ranking to Rybakina after the latter's performance in the semifinals of the U.S. Open. Sabalenka previously held the top position in the WTA rankings for 99 weeks, beginning in October 2024.