Belarusian tennis star Aryna Sabalenka brought humor to social media as she playfully engaged her Instagram followers in a friendly debate about abs and resemblance with her best friend, Paula Badosa.
In a recent post, Sabalenka, 25, shared a workout selfie with 26-year-old Badosa, inviting her followers to compare their abs and comment on their resemblance. Sabalenka amusingly suggested that Badosa might have the superior abs with a laughter emoji.
This light-hearted exchange is just one of many instances where Sabalenka publicly acknowledges her close friendship with Badosa. Last year, she posted a photo of the duo, referring to Badosa as her “Tour soulmate” and emphasizing the unique bond they share despite being on-court rivals.
Sabalenka recognizes the rarity of forming deep connections on the professional tennis circuit, where competitors often face each other on the court. Despite the challenges, Sabalenka values the understanding with Badosa, ensuring that their on-court battles don’t impact their off-court friendship.
“It doesn’t happen very often that you can find your soulmate on the circuit because we compete against each other. But we had this deal: on the court, we are opponents, we can shout whatever we want, but off the court, we are friends again,” explained Sabalenka in a late 2023 interview.
The bond between Sabalenka and Badosa extends beyond the tennis court, with Sabalenka expressing gratitude for having Badosa by her side as an essential and supportive friend.
While Badosa recently withdrew from the Abu Dhabi Open, Sabalenka is currently taking some time off after her Australian Open triumph. Her return to competitive action is anticipated in Dubai later this month after withdrawing from the Doha tournament.
