Remember when Serena Williams’ former coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, stunned the tennis world by sharing jaw-dropping stats about Aryna Sabalenka at last year’s US Open? “Aryna Sabalenka hits forehands harder than men on tour during this US Open— and I’m not surprised!” he posted on IG. Her current reign at the top of the WTA rankings and impressive performance in the Italian Open solidify her reputation as a formidable force in modern tennis. But hey, even the fiercest predators have their off moments! Isn’t it? In a light-hearted twist at the Italian Open, Sabalenka playfully poked fun at her timing with a cheeky on-court moment that had fans cracking up. So, what exactly did she do?

Just days ago in Madrid, the top seed Aryna Sabalenka showcased her fierce dominance, reeling off 17 straight points early in an intense, albeit error-strewn, showdown against American Coco Gauff. Despite a shaky 2nd set, the Belarusian held her nerve, saving a set point before closing out a 6-3, 7-6(3) win at the iconic Caja Mágica, securing her third Madrid Open title. 

But ahead of the Italian Open, Sabalenka flipped the script with a hilarious twist, sharing a mistimed moment that had everyone around her in stitches. Even champions have their off-beat seconds, and Aryna’s playful humor proved she’s not just powerful but refreshingly human too!

The official IG page of the Italian Open recently posted a hilarious video titled, “Who’s got the perfect timing?” featuring players attempting to stop a stopwatch at exactly 3.5 minutes. Aryna Sabalenka’s attempt instantly stole the show. In her 1st try, she hit the stop button almost immediately at just 00:00:81 seconds, laughing, “I was just trying to see if I was gonna hit the right button.” On her next go, she stopped it at 2.70 minutes and exclaimed, “I can not be that bad!” before wrapping it all up with a smile and a shrug, saying, “You know what? It’s okay.” Classic Aryna: power, playfulness, and personality.

Alongside Aryna Sabalenka’s comedic timing challenge, Italian star Jasmine Paolini also delivered a hilarious stint during the stopwatch test before the Italian Open. Paolini 1st stopped the clock at 1.45 minutes, then at 2.20, before saying with determination, “Wait, now I am gonna get it.” Just when it seemed she’d nailed it, she missed the mark at 3.45 minutes, but still proudly declared, “This one was good!” The true moment of brilliance, however, came from Italy’s top seed Jannik Sinner. 

Making a much-anticipated return to the court after his absence, Sinner had a mic-drop moment by stopping the timer at 3.56 minutes, nearly spot on, and marked his comeback with style and swagger.

And while Aryna may not have nailed the stopwatch challenge, she recently had a reason to smile beyond the court. Celebrating her birthday, she received a heartwarming message from her beloved Brazilian partner, making her special day even brighter with love and cheer.

Aryna Sabalenka’s birthday becomes nothing short of a fairytale as her beau’s sweet message steals all the spotlight

Just a few days ago, during her run at the 2025 Madrid Open, the 3-time GS winner shared a light-hearted moment in a brief interview with ‘BB Tennis’. When asked about her birthday plans, the Belarusian delivered a witty response. “I don’t know what I’ll wish for myself. It seems to me just not to be afraid to be yourself that’s all and not to look at this scary number in the passport, so more botox,” she joked. That candid humor set the tone for what would become a birthday to remember.

Sabalenka’s 27th birthday turned out to be a dual celebration of both personal joy and professional achievement, as she clinched the Madrid Open title, beating Coco Gauff just days after that interview. Making the day even more special was her Brazilian partner, Georgios Frangulis, who marked the occasion with heartfelt affection and unwavering pride in her success.

On May 5, Frangulis posted a series of three touching IG Stories in honor of Sabalenka’s birthday. His tributes, written in both English and Portuguese, reflected the deep love and admiration between the couple. “Happy birthday meu amorzao da minha vida (the love of my life) @arynasabalenka,” the 36-year-old shared in the first post.

In the 2nd, he added a romantic nod to his Greek roots, writing simply, “Te amo (I love you) @arynasabalenka.” The last story featured a tender moment, a kiss shared between the two following Sabalenka’s 2024 US Open win. “Keep rocking meu amor (my love) 27th will be even better @arynasabalenka,” the Brazilian captioned the image.

With the Madrid crown freshly earned and her confidence soaring, Sabalenka now sets her sights on the Italian Open in Rome. Facing Anastasia Potapova next, can she keep the winning streak alive on the Roman clay? What do you think?