Imagine yourself as a tennis superstar, standing on the court, the roar of the crowd echoing in your ears. In the midst of the excitement, you spot a tiny figure in the stands, dressed in your signature outfit, clutching a toy bearing your nickname. Their unwavering support, their infectious enthusiasm, ignites a fire within you. This is the inspiring story of Aryna Sabalenka and her “mini” admirer!

A special guest made Sabalenka’s 6-3, 6-1 victory over Lucia Bronzetti in the second round of the 2024 US Open even sweeter. A young fan, dressed in a pink Nike outfit and sporting a temporary tiger tattoo, was featured on the stadium’s jumbotron during the match. The tribute from her mini doppelgänger visibly touched the Belarusian star, compelling her to make a request, “Can I take a picture with you?”

“It was really adorable moment,” Sabalenka said in her post-match press conference. “I just looked up, and I saw on the big screen, like, mini me! It was so cute.” “That’s the first time I see someone dress up the same as me and having little tattoo and little tiger. How cute is that?” she added with a laugh.

“It’s such a motivation to keep going to inspire the young generation. That’s the goal,” said Sabalenka, who clicked a photo with the tiny star on-court, displaying their matching tattoos!

Throughout the match, the girl cheered for her favorite player in joy while the 26-year-old player gave her all to secure a spot in the third round against Ekaterina Alexandrova. This loving gesture impressed the Canadian Open quarterfinalist, who intends to draw inspiration from the fan! 

“It definitely means a lot. This is something that keeps me going. To see this young generation inspired by me.. this is what it’s all about. This is such an inspiration for me. Thank you so much,” said Sabalenka, hoping to see her in the tennis courts soon! Her heartwarming hug with the young fan before signing her pink and big tennis ball on-court put a smile on every fan’s face!

The Belarusian player has endured a mixed season this year. While in the clay court stint, we saw her fall short against Iga Swiatek twice. Her withdrawal from the Wimbledon and the Olympics (due to her shoulder injury) further complicated the scenario. 

But now, the Australian Open champion seems to be on the right track, and a little motivation from fans is probably going to help her more in the long run! Although she found a fan with a similar outfit in the stands, on the tour, Aryna Sabalenka has one more person that she relates to!

Aryna Sabalenka on “finding” someone “similar” to her in the tennis arena!

In a post-match press conference in the Flushing Meadows, Aryna Sabalenka expressed her joy over her friend Paula Badosa’s return to her form this season. Talking about her dynamic with the Citi Open winner, Sabalenka said, “How would I describe that? It’s just an amazing thing, you know, to find someone so similar to you and having the same kind of mindset, same thoughts on different topics, and just be able to talk to someone and to have fun with someone.”

The Spaniard, who has been struggling with her back issues, failed to participate in last year’s US Open tournament. However, this year, the former world no. 2 is back in New York and has already qualified for the third round. Speaking on this, Sabalenka added, “Seeing her right now on her… I would say she’s back on her top level. That’s really amazing, and I’m really happy for her, and she deserves it..”

Be it motivating her fans or her friends, Aryna Sabalenka’s impact on the tennis world is undeniable. Moreover, as Sabalenka continues her quest for glory at the US Open, she has undoubtedly earned a new fan for life!