‘Scared’ Aryna Sabalenka makes ‘botox’ admission as 27th birthday nears

Aryna Sabalenka, who will turn 27 next month, has time and again joked that she doesn't like getting old.

‘Scared’ Aryna Sabalenka makes ‘botox’ admission as 27th birthday nears

Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

Aryna Sabalenka will turn 27 on May 5. And the gift she wants? Sabalenka being Sabalenka, did not give a straight answer when asked what she wished for her birthday.

Sabalenka is in Madrid for the first clay-court WTA 1000 of the season. After moving past Anna Blinkova, Sabalenka came from a set down to knock out Elise Mertens. The Madrid Open final will be held a day before Sabalenka’s birthday.

Now the truth is, Sabalenka hates getting older. In January this year, the three-time Grand Slam singles champion said she already felt old seeing a 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva on the tour. So, when asked after her match against Blinkova about her birthday gift, Sabalenka jokingly made a “botox” admission.

I don’t know what I’ll wish for myself it seems to me just not to be afraid to be yourself that’s all and not to look at this scary number in the passport, so more botox.

Aryna Sabalenka told BB Tennis

Aryna Sabalenka sad about Paula Badosa’s Madrid Open withdrawal

While Aryna Sabalenka is chasing her third title of the season, for Paula Badosa, the story is- early exits and multiple withdrawals. Since losing the Australian Open semifinal against Sabalenka, the Spaniard could win no more than two games in the next five tournaments she played.

Aryna Sabalenka (3)
Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

She then withdrew from the Madrid Open because of her back problem. Her best friend Sabalenka only wished her a speedy recovery.

I’m really sad that she can’t play in front of her people. I wish her a quick recovery. It was better to stop and deal with it, hopefully, she’ll be 100% soon.

Aryna Sabalenka told Tennis Channel

The 27-year-old last lifted a trophy in August last year by beating Marie Bouzkova in the Citi Open. Sabalenka, on the other hand, won the Brisbane International and the Miami Open this year. She is the only player on the WTA Tour to progress to five finals this season. Recently in the Stuttgart Open, she lost the title to Jelena Ostapenko.

Aryna Sabalenka joins Iga Swiatek and Madison Keys after beating Elise Mertens

Aryna Sabalenka has become just the third active player on the WTA Tour to clinch 10 or 10-plus wins over a single opponent. Her third-round match was her 12th match against Elise Mertens.

Aryna Sabalenka Miami Open
Aryna Sabalenka (Image via Instagram @arynasabalenka)

She now holds a 10-2 head-to-head record over her former doubles partner. The Belarusian joined Iga Swiatek and Madison Keys as the former holds an 11-3 head-to-head record over World No.4 Coco Gauff, while Keys is 10-2 against Daria Kasatkina.

Sabalenka is the winner of two Madrid Open titles, the only two clay-court trophies she has won in her career. The 19-time WTA title winner could face the Pole if both of them reach the final. Swiatek is 8-4 against Sabalenka in the head-to-head record but lost the last match they played against each other in the semifinal of last year’s Cincinnati Open.

It was Swiatek who denied Sabalenka her third title in the Spanish capital last year. In the 2024 WTA Match of the Year, Swiatek saved three championship points to become a Madrid Open champion for the first time.

Keys, on the other hand, could meet Sabalenka in the tournament if both of them reach the quarterfinals. Sabalenka has a 7-2 head-to-head record over the American. But it was the 30-year-old who denied her the three-peat at the Australian Open this year, beating her in straight sets in the final to become a Grand Slam champion for the first time in her career. In their last encounter- in the Indian Wells semifinal, Sabalenka secured an easy win.

Also read: (In pictures) Alexander Zverev adds to clay calling controversy after taking on-court camera snap at Madrid Open