Sabalenka swaps her racket for the UFC while preparing for the WTA Finals

Aryna Sabalenka swapped her racket for mixed martial arts for one night. The Belarusian tennis player was present this Saturday at UFC 333, held in Abu Dhabi, where she enjoyed a night of fights in full preparation for the WTA Finals. The world number two took advantage of the competitive break to disconnect before facing the last major event of her season, leaving an unexpected anecdote during the broadcast.

Indeed, Sabalenka's presence did not go unnoticed. The organization's cameras focused on the champion of four Grand Slam titles, who received a loud ovation from the crowd; however, the most curious moment came when commentator Jon Anik referred to her as "Aryna Sabalenko," a mistake that also appeared in the television graphic. The player took the error in stride, becoming one of the most talked-about images of the night.

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

A final challenge to close the year

The getaway comes at an important time for the Belarusian. Sabalenka has not competed since her loss to American Ann Li in the second round of the WTA 1000 in Wuhan on October 14. After winning the first set, she ended up losing in three sets, prematurely ending her participation in the Asian tour.

Now, her focus is on the WTA Finals, the tournament that will bring together the eight best players of the season in Indian Wells from November 8 to 15. The Belarusian will compete in this event for the sixth consecutive season and will look to win the title that eluded her in the 2022 and 2025 finals for the first time. The goal will be to end the year on a positive note after an inconsistent season in its final stretch. Before returning to competition, the Belarusian allowed herself a different night. However, the upcoming challenge remains the same: to demonstrate that she still belongs to the elite of world tennis.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sabalenka cambia la raqueta por la UFC en plena preparación para las WTA Finals

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