Welcome to Cosmo Sports, our new series where we get unprecedented, all-day access to some of the most influential names in collegiate and professional athletics. We capture a full day in their lives to give you a deeper sense of who they are, not just what they do.
Casual tennis fans likely first encountered Aryna Sabalenka during Roland Garros (aka the French Open) back in June. During the two-week tournament, she delivered blistering forehands, fiery fist pumps, and ferocious “Come on!” screams. She made it to the finals and it ended with a dramatic three-set loss to America’s tennis sweetheart Coco Gauff. Then...controversy ensued.
Here’s what happened: During the on-court trophy ceremony, Aryna said she played awful tennis, then in the post-match press interview, she lamented that she played the worst tennis final of her career, placed blame on the conditions, and went on to say Coco only won because she played terribly. Understandably, these comments didn’t sit well with spectators. But while the internet was going off, calling her “a bad sport,” “sore loser,” and “sour grapes,” I sat on my phone, watching her interviews, feeling conflicted about the entire thing.
I’ve played tennis my entire life, so unlike casual fans, I understood Aryna to a degree. That’s not to make excuses for the moment—staying composed is part of the gig as a professional athlete. Let me break it down. At the professional level, tennis is unlike many other sports in that the loser speaks immediately after a major final loss—there’s zero time to process what transpired, to gather your thoughts and emotions, or to briefly yell profanities in the comfort of a closed locker room. You’re expected to stand alone in front of 14,000 people, mic in hand, and graciously congratulate your opponent while in the aftermath of your loss. Then, moments later, you’re shuffled into a conference room to answer a flurry of often critical, performance-based press questions. Some days, you just might fall short and drop the ball.
Maybe this is what they mean when they say sports are a microcosm of life, because how many times does something like this happen in the minutia of the day-to-day, be it with friends, partners, family members, or colleagues? Mistakes happen and judgment lapses—it’s simply a part of life, whether you’re a world-class athlete, working mom, both, and/or everything in between (and aren’t we happy our bad days aren’t in front of tens of thousands of people?).
The day after the match, Aryna posted an apology to her Instagram Story and later said she wrote privately to Coco to properly congratulate her on the win. The two are on good terms now—there’s a video of them dancing at Wimbledon to prove it.
If that’s how you first came across Aryna, allow me to give her the reintroduction she deserves, one that’s fitting for the player who’s dominated women’s tennis the past few years.
In 2023, she won the Australian Open as her first Grand Slam title, and in 2024, she won the tournament again. Later that same year, she took home the trophy from the US Open. In total, Aryna has 20 WTA singles titles under her belt, and today, she’s ranked as the No. 1 women’s tennis player in the world—a spot she’s held since November 2024. This season, she’s reached the finals of both the Australian Open and Roland Garros, and made it to the semi-finals at Wimbledon. And in a few short weeks, she’ll be the favorite at the US Open, where she’s poised to defend her title.
Through the years, I’ve watched and admired this champion and determined competitor, but it was the Aryna I got to meet over Zoom who captivated me most. “I can be pretty tough sometimes,” she confesses, “but overall, I think I’m more of a chill person. When I compete, I am a tiger—I’m fighting for my dreams out there; there’s no time to be nice. But I’m also definitely fun and easygoing, too.” It’s this lightness, coupled with an unrelenting intensity, that is so distinctly Aryna—the one her 4.3 million combined Instagram and TikTok followers often get to see. And as of July 17, her fans will get an even more authentic look at the tennis pro’s personal life in her new YouTube series, Aryna’s Arena.
Just ahead of Wimbledon, Aryna and I chatted while she was fresh out of practice and in the middle of her recovery routine. During our interview, I got to see and understand Aryna’s many sides: the one that films TikTok dances after practice, the one that gets influenced by social media to bulk-order skincare from Sephora, the one that goes on luxurious vacations with her boyfriend, the one that almost quit tennis in 2022, and, of course, the one that wins Grand Slams.
You just finished playing Roland Garros and Berlin, and now Wimbledon is coming up. What are you most looking forward to about playing there?
It’s a dream slam. It’s so classy and beautiful. The stadium, the locker rooms, the dining room, and everything feel so special. It’s amazing to be in that environment and to have a chance to compete and play on the grass.
When you were a kid watching these tours, were there pros you loved or inspired you?
I watched Serena and Sharapova’s matches in my early teens. I loved the way they were dominating the tour. I wasn’t really crazy about someone, and there wasn’t someone who inspired me to be an athlete. I think it’s a good thing, because somehow I managed to be and stay in the moment and enjoy what I was doing at the time.
When you think back on that younger athlete, what do you want to tell her?
I would tell her to enjoy the journey because even when you hold the trophy, all you remember is the struggle—what you went through and what it took to be in your position. Life is tough, but I always find that something good comes after tough times.
Speaking of tough times, I remember reading that you considered quitting tennis in 2022 after struggling with your serve. How’d you work through that mentally?
It was such a long process. A lot of tennis is in your head. You’re always talking to yourself and dealing with emotional moments. We truly tried everything to fix my serve and nothing worked. I thought maybe it was a sign to quit and do something else. But it ended up being a turning point for me. I stayed with it, worked even harder, and mentally, I found myself. I got through by trying over and over again. I talked a lot with my team and brought new people into the team. It’s very important to have the right people around you, especially during those moments. It’s all about support.
Which qualities do you look for when bringing someone on to your team?
Loyalty, connection, and character are super important to me. I need to trust the person, feel safe around them, and know that there’s not going to be any leak of information or anything like that. I call my team a family. It’s important to bring good people into the family.
How would your team describe you?
Crazy! On a serious note, I think they would describe me as someone who is ready to help whenever. I’m the kind of person that if someone around me needs help, I’m gonna do everything I can for them. So, crazy but also very kind.
What does your inner monologue sound like during tough moments?
You’re always talking to yourself and dealing with emotional moments. There’s a bad mindset and a good mindset you have, and you are just trying to balance them during the match. It’s a fight, it’s tough, but it’s also beautiful if you can get through it and you can get those wins. Then you feel super proud and like you improved. That’s the beauty of the sport.
Outside of tennis, do you have other dreams? Like, are you someone who wants to get into acting or write a book?
I would love to write a book. I also want to have a brand, something fashion-related or maybe beauty products. It’s a very tough business to get into, but I would love to try.
I always see you shopping at Sephora on social media. Your skin’s really glowy. What’s your routine?
I cannot stop ordering and trying beauty products. My routine is a lot of moisturizing and serums. I have a lot of devices, too, like one from Medicube. The device is strong, and I can see and feel it working. I do a lot of masks and facials. Most of my treatments I do at home by myself. Whenever I get a good recommendation, I’ll go, but I actually just did my own facial yesterday. I do it whenever I have a minute.
I have so many good recs for facials in New York City—I’ll send you my list for when you come for the US Open! What about makeup? Do you wear it during a match or only off the court?
I wish but no. I mostly just wear makeup whenever I go for dinner. You won’t believe it, but I have a professional makeup kit that is over 10 pounds for sure. I have so much stuff and I keep ordering and trying new things. I save whatever I see on Reels and TikTok, and then I go to Sephora and buy it. I love doing it.
That’s so relatable. Do you only wear sunscreen when you play then? Does it get in your eyes when you sweat?
It does, so I only apply it once because I’m sweating so much. I know it’s bad. I did a skin scan recently and it showed that my skin is damaged like crazy from the sun. So I’m trying to get better with more sunscreen. I mix what I use, but right now, I’m reaching for a La Roche Posay one. It’s really gentle.
They make great sunscreen. I noticed you wear a Whoop. I started wearing one, and I’m obsessed with my sleep and strain scores. Are you?
I really focus on my hours of sleep and my Whoop age. I sleep a lot and my Whoop age is 19.9. I’m going backward.
You’re a baby in Whoop years!
They probably do it on purpose to make me feel good. What’s yours?
I just turned 34 and my Whoop age is 30.9. I was excited about it, but then my friend who also just turned 34 said her Whoop age was 25!
Do you sleep good?
Not really, so I need them to hack mine so I feel good about myself, too! Outside of sleep, what other ways do you prevent burnout during such a long season?
Doing stuff I enjoy—a quick vacation, a good dinner. If it’s during the tournament, I’ll go shopping or watch fun movies. I love to do social media stuff. I love to share myself with people. When I have a little time after practice, I go on TikTok, find a cool dance, and do it as part of my recovery routine. Other times, I just want quiet time somewhere or to stay home watching Netflix and drinking tea and having cookies. It’s nice to just switch off.
Speaking of vacation, I saw on Instagram that you were in Greece in June. What kind of vacationer are you—someone who’s having cocktails on the beach or someone who wants to go to a city and shop?
All of them together, please? Drinks by the beach, good music, and ideally, a shopping center nearby. Mykonos was perfect for me—it has a lot of beach clubs and some of them have shopping areas.
Obsessed. Let’s switch gears and talk about your relationship. I see you post a lot with your boyfriend, Georgios Frangulis. How did you two meet?
We met when I was signing the contract with Oakberry. He’s the founder and owner of the brand. I went to see the team, and he was there. We talked a little bit, but then later on, we just went out for dinner, and that’s how everything started. We’ve been together for a year.
What does his support of your tennis look like?
It’s very important for me to have my partner next to me. It’s really cool that his work is also global. I realize not everyone is as lucky as me to have a partner who can travel with me and my crazy schedule while still working. It’s just cool to see him in the box when I play. He motivates me to keep going. It means a lot.
What’s your ideal date night?
It’s different all the time. Sometimes it’s just Netflix, and sometimes I like to go for a good dinner and listen to music.
Okay, now it’s time for our fun rapid-fire questions. What’s your go-to cocktail order?
Espresso martini.
The last thing you bought that you were really excited about?
My Birkin.
Most famous person in your contact list?
David Grutman [the hospitality entrepreneur who owns Miami hot spot LIV Nightclub].
The last person you texted?
My boyfriend.
Favorite pre-match song?
“We Are the People” by Empire of the Sun.
Lipstick or lip gloss?
Lipstick.
Nights in or nights out?
Nights out.
Grass, clay, or hard court?
Just because it’s grass-court season, I’ll say grass.
If you could be a pro athlete in any other sport, which would it be?
Boxing.
If you were to write your book right now, what would the title be?
How to Fight Through Challenges.
