BREAKING: Aryna Sabalenka Receives Wonderful News as She Gets a Lesson From Cristiano Ronaldo’s Ex in a New Job After Her US Open Defeat
Aryna Sabalenka has made waves in the fashion world after getting catwalk tips from Cristiano Ronaldo’s ex Irina Shayk. The tennis star hit the catwalk just 10 days after losing in the US Open final.
The 28-year-old suffered a three-set defeat by Elena Rybakina at the Arthur Ashe Stadium earlier this month. The loss denied Sabalenka a third consecutive US Open title as she missed out on her fifth Grand Slam triumph. Sabalenka was clearly heartbroken by the result as she smashed her racket and swore at a TV camera after falling short to Rybakina, having also picked up a code violation during the match. However, the former world No.1 has seemingly put the defeat behind her after working on a new modelling job for Gucci.
In January, Sabalenka announced that she had partnered with Gucci. On Tuesday, the tennis ace was seen modelling for the iconic Italian brand during the first day of Milan Fashion Week.
Sabalenka strutted down the catwalk in a sparkly, chocolate-coloured turtleneck gown. Before the 28-year-old took centre stage, she was seen talking to top model Shayk, who was previously engaged to Ronaldo before their relationship ended in 2015.
In a backstage video, Sabalenka said: “I’m learning, I’m learning from the best.” The camera then panned around to show Shayk practising for the walkway in her strappy Versace dress.
Shayk clearly appreciated spending time with Sabalenka as she posted a snap of the pair on social media, with the caption: “With my runway queen @arynasabalenka.” The former US Open champion reshared the photo and wrote “Queen” above Shayk’s post.
Sabalenka previously shared her excitement about working with Gucci on The Run-Through podcast. The four-time major winner praised Gucci’s creative director Demna and was thrilled to partner with the famous brand.
“I love Demna. I always really loved his work, and it’s amazing what he does,” Sabalenka said. “The moment when he entered the Gucci family, I was like, ‘Oh, my God, this is the time.’ It’s amazing.”
In terms of her tennis career, Sabalenka lost her world No.1 spot to Rybakina after the US Open champion reached the semi-finals. The Belarusian had previously held top spot in the WTA rankings for 99 weeks, starting in October 2024.
