Aryna Sabalenka finally opens up on the meaning behind her infamous Tiger tattoo

With the Wimbledon Championships only a few days away, Aryna Sabalenka took some time to answer some questions with GQ fashion magazine, one of which involved the very visible tiger tattoo on her left forearm and left thigh.

The World No.1 will be the top seed at Wimbledon next week, where she kicks off her campaign against Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine. The big-hitting Belarusian's best performance at SW19 have been two semifinal appearances, in 2021 and 2023. Sabalenka did not compete at last year's edition due to injury.

The Tiger represents her fighting spirit

During her interview with GQ magazine, Sabalenka was asked to list the ten things she could not live without. The two-time Australian Open champion mentioned her Wilson tennis bag, which came with a Tiger zipper. After playing coy, Sabalenka finally revealed the meaning behind her prominent Tiger tattoo.

"They're not doing this with every player," said Sabalenka with a laugh. "So it means like you achieve something and having these things on my bag, it's just a dream, you know?
"So pretty with this little cat situation. I was born Year of Tiger and I always felt like a fighter on court. That's the truth, you have to fight every single point. So I felt like it's a good reminder to have on my arm that I have to keep fighting no matter what. So it's just a little inspiration for myself."

Sabalenka was born in 1998, which equates to The Year of The Tiger in the Chinse Zodiac. The Belarusian powerhouse would state she got the tattoo to help remind her stay fierce and competitive on the court.