Aryna Sabalenka Makes Ilona Maher Tattoo Admission in New Interview originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Tennis star Aryna Sabalenka has revealed she’d choose a famous athlete from a completely different sport if she ever decided to get a tattoo.
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During a lighthearted interview with GQ, Sabalenka was asked which famous athlete she’d ink on her skin.
“I love Ilona Maher. So Ilona, you’re going to be on my arm,” she answered.
Maher, an Olympic bronze medalist and rising figure in women’s sports, has gained attention both for her rugby skills and her confident presence off the field, including walking the runway at the 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit show.
Recently, Maher even posted about Sabalenka and fellow tennis star Coco Gauff on social media, calling them “too many legends in one video” after seeing the pair dance together, said Parade.
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Beyond tattoo talk, Sabalenka also shared a few lighter details about her life. Asked about her lucky charms, she showed off a necklace with a blue Greek eye pendant.
“I got it from my boyfriend one year ago and I just keep it all the time,” she said.
When it comes to post-tournament treats, Sabalenka admits to having a sweet tooth and a taste for something a bit wild.
“I go for gummy bears. I drink tequila with it. Crazy combination but it works,” she said, laughing.
She also shared small glimpses into her personality. On the topic of British summers, she said, “Well, when it’s sunny like this, it’s so beautiful. But when it’s raining then, I’ll be struggling to find a good thing about British summer.”
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Aryna Sabalenka returns a shot during her match against Qinwen Zheng of China on day 10 at Roland Garros Stadium.Susan Mullane-Imagn Images
When asked about a favorite Wimbledon final, she picked the recent clash between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, calling it “a crazy final.”
On the court, Sabalenka continues her Wimbledon run after beating Carson Branstine 6-1, 7-5 in her first-round match. She praised her opponent’s serving power, calling Branstine’s second-set serves “crazy,” clocking over 120 mph.
Fans now wait to see how far Sabalenka will go at Wimbledon, and perhaps one day, whether she’ll actually add Maher’s face to her arm in ink.
Related: Tennis Star Aryna Sabalenka Reveals Her Other No. 1 Goal Without Hesitation
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
