Aryna Sabalenka Shares Emotional Message after Laureus Award Win

“In all the sports, there are so many great, strong, powerful, inspiring women who do incredible, inspiring things, and to receive this award means a lot,” Sabalenka added.

The World No.1 became the fifth player from the WTA Tour to achieve this recognition on Monday night in Madrid. She now joins a list that includes Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, and Simone Biles.

Sabalenka enjoyed the 2025 season, in which she reached three Grand Slam finals and won the US Open.

She finished runner-up in both the Australian Open and French Open, which notably gave her more composure in big games.

Following those defeats, Sabalenka started the year 2026 strongly. She defeated Rybakina in the Indian Wells Open semifinals (and later in the Miami semifinals) and beat Gauff in the Miami Open final.

With another feather in her cap in the form of the best sportswoman of the year achievement, Sabalenka will look to carry on her momentum in the Madrid Open.

Aryna Sabalenka has Her Eyes on the Madrid Open Trophy

Sabalenka is back in action to defend her title at the Mutua Madrid Open this week. She is overall a three-time champion in this tournament, and with the way she is performing recently, she can very well capture number four.

But the 27-year-old will be facing tough competition, with her very first match against either American Peyton Stearns or 2025 Roland Garros semifinalist Loïs Boisson.

Her projected fourth-round opposition is either former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka or No. 23 Marie Bouzkova, who won a clay-court title earlier this month in Bogota.

In addition, Sabalenka can very possibly square off against Elena Rybakina again, who recently rose to the World No.2 ranking. The two are once again favorites to be at the final in Madrid.

In your opinion, would you like to see this rematch, or prefer Sabalenka defend her title against some new faces should she reach the final again?

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