"My mom didn't speak to me for a week, she said, 'What the f*** is this?": Sabalenka on meaning and reaction to Tiger tattoo
WTAMonday, 26 June 2023 at 19:00
Aryna
Sabalenka commented on why she has a tiger tattoo on her arm.
The
Belarusian is awaiting her participation in Wimbledon after being defeated in
the second round of the Grass Court Championships Berlin by Veronika
Kudermetova with a score of 2-6, 6-7(2). With the victory over Vera Zvonareva
(6-3, 6-2), Sabalenka will enter the third Grand Slam of the year with only two
matches on grass.
The world
No. 2 has previously shown that she has the ability to compete on grass, as she
reached the semifinals of Wimbledon in 2021 (defeated by Karolina Pliskova by 5-7, 6-4, 6-4) in
a championship ultimately won by the world No. 1 at the time, Ashleigh Barty.
The
Belarusian recently spoke about the visible tiger tattoo on her left arm and the reaction of her parents.
“I was born
the year of the tiger. I was dating a guy covered in tattoos..I thought a tiger
suits me. I’m a fighter. I never give up. I hated it at 1st, so did my parents.
My mom didn't speak to me for a week. She said, 'What the f*** is this?”
Sabalenka can continue to dream of becoming the world No. 1 if she becomes the champion at Wimbledon. Currently, she is around 900 points behind Iga Swiatek, who is playing in Bad Homburg this week. However, Aryna is ahead by 500 points in the race towards the WTA Finals, so if she achieves a better result than Swiatek at Wimbledon, she could get even closer to the top of the WTA rankings.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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