Aryna Sabalenka Stars in TIME Cover Shoot, Shares Behind‑the‑Scenes Photos

Title: Aryna Sabalenka Stars in TIME Cover Shoot, Shares Behind‑the‑Scenes Photos

Subtitle: World No. 1 posted images and a short clip from a basketball‑court photo session after her exit from the National Bank Open in Toronto.

Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1, this week published images and a brief video from a new cover shoot for TIME magazine in which she poses in a black leotard on a basketball court. In one striking frame the 28‑year‑old athlete is shown hanging from the rim.

Sabalenka posted the material to her social channels shortly after competing at the National Bank Open in Toronto, where she was defeated by Ekaterina Alexandrova in the round of 16 with the score 7-6, 6-4, 4-6. Alongside the photos she also uploaded a selfie and a short behind‑the‑scenes clip.

“just hanging… bts of my @time cover shoot 😎 pic.twitter.com/ECi2voDELX” — Sabalenka Aryna (@SabalenkaA) August 13, 2026.

Sabalenka on pressure and negative emotions

On the occasion of the TIME cover, Sabalenka gave an interview in which she reiterated that she will never give up on tennis. She discussed how she handles pressure and negative feelings during matches, describing her coping method as an outlet between sets.

“I will never have full control. When I hold that negativity inside me, it just grows, grows, grows and grows. It destroys you from the inside to the point that you no longer have the energy or strength to compete and fight,” she said. “So shouting something out really helped me. I need to get it out. Between sets you just go into that room, get it out and come back like a new person.”

The imagery and Sabalenka’s candid words have sparked a wave of reactions online, mixing admiration for the visual concept with discussion about the mental side of elite sport. The player’s social posts and the TIME feature arrive as she prepares for the late‑summer hard‑court swing.

Photo: press material from the event