Grand Slam champion and WTA World No. 2 tennis star Aryna Sabalenka was a spectator at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
Sabalenka’s appearance in Abu Dhabi comes at a time when she is not participating in the final tournaments of the Asian swing because she is preparing for the WTA Finals.
She drew thunderous applause when pictured on camera.
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Smiling Sabalenka despite mispronounced name
Sabalenka laughed off the announcer mispronouncing her last name “Sabalenko.”
Aryna Sabalenka at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi “2-time Australian Open & 2-time US Open Champ Aryna Sabalenko” 😭😭😭😭 https://t.co/MahpftQTGM
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) October 25, 2026
It is great to see the lighthearted side of Sabalenka. By her standards, she did not play her best tennis in the summer or fall. During that time, Elena Rybakina overtook her World No. 1 ranking.
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WTA Finals could give Sabalenka big boost
If her confidence is wavering, winning the WTA Finals for the first time in her career would be the much needed boost Sabalenka could use.
The fact that this year’s WTA Finals are at Indian Wells, and Sabalenka won Indian Wells this year makes her a favorite to win the event along with defending WTA Finals and former Indian Wells champion Rybakina.
A subplot to this year’s WTA Finals will be the expected friction between Sabalenka and Russian Mirra Andreeva with their Ukrainian peer Elina Svitolina. Svitolina does not shake hands or interact with Belarusian and Russian players. In the small setting of eight players with two alternates, that could be produce awkward moments.
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