Tennis star Aryna Sabalenka knows how to make headlines even when she's not on the court.
Sabalenka, the No. 1 player in the world, is coming off a fourth consecutive run to the Australian Open final. Despite being favored to defeat Elena Rybakina at Rod Laver Arena, she suffered a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 loss.
"I played great until [a] certain point, and then I couldn't resist that aggression that she had on court today," Sabalenka said. "I don't know if I have any regrets. Maybe I should have tried to be more aggressive on my serve, knowing that I have a break, and put pressure on her, but she played incredible. Today she was a better player."
At the end of the day, Rybakina was the better player during the Australian Open final when under pressure. She won 64% of points when the score was either 30-30 or 40-40.
© Mike Frey-Imagn Images.
Although the loss to Rybakina still stings, Sabalenka is doing her best to get over the pain.
Earlier this week, Sabalenka shared several photos on Instagram along with the caption: "Catching you up." Her swimsuit selfie that was included in this slideshow turned plenty of heads.
"So nice to see you chilling after the tournament. I like your energy & vibe. Best wishes for your time off," one person commented.
"Aryna is the best," another fan declared.
What's next for Sabalenka?
After falling short at the Australian Open, the No. 1 player on the WTA Tour withdrew from the Qatar Open.
Sabalenka is expected to compete at the BNP Paribas Open and Miami Open in March. Once those tournaments are over, she'll get ready for the clay court season.
As you'd imagine, Sabalenka will be one of the favorites to win the French Open this year.