PICTURES: Aryna Sabalenka hits the beach in red bikini as she makes the most of Maldives getaway, captures supermodel Irina Shayk’s attention

After a whirlwind year on the WTA Tour, Aryna Sabalenka is finally taking a well-earned break and she’s making it count. The Belarusian star, currently in the Maldives, has been turning heads not just for her tennis, but for her holiday style too. In a striking red bikini, she shared snippets of her beach getaway on Instagram, catching the eye of none other than Russian supermodel Irina Shayk.

Sabalenka’s 2025 season was nothing short of remarkable. She opened the year at the Australian Open, reaching the final but falling short of defending her title a setback, yes, but hardly the last word. She bounced back impressively, claiming trophies at the Miami Open and Madrid Open, before another near-miss at the French Open left her in second place once more. Then came September, and with it her first Grand Slam triumph of the year at the US Open, cementing her status as the World No.1. She wrapped up the season with another runners-up finish at the WTA Finals, a testament to her relentless consistency.

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Now, the 27-year-old is swapping racquets for relaxation. Posting on Instagram, Sabalenka offered fans a glimpse of her tropical retreat alongside boyfriend Georgios Frangulis, looking effortlessly radiant in her red bikini. The post exuded the kind of vacation vibes every athlete dreams of after months of grueling travel and competition.

Even in her downtime, Sabalenka’s energy is unmistakable. After finishing her media duties at the WTA Finals, she jokingly nudged journalists to speed things along so she could start enjoying her Maldives escape. And when the idea of swimming with sharks was tossed around during a post-match press conference, Sabalenka didn’t shy away from her fear quite candidly, in fact.

“Well, that’s my biggest fear and I hope that I’m going to fight this fear but I don’t know. It’s scary, you know, because I don’t want to be in the news like, ‘Oh, so Sabalenka got (bit),’” she admitted with a laugh. “I mean, I will try, but I have a feeling that the moment I step in the water, I’ll go out in a second.”

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But it’s not all high-adrenaline thrills for Sabalenka, the top priority is far simpler: a flawless tan. “Yeah, my biggest goal is to work on my tan lines. I want to see one color,” she confessed. You can almost picture her lathering on the sunscreen, determined to achieve that sun-kissed perfection.

When you step back and look at the bigger picture, Sabalenka’s 2025 season was nothing short of dominant. From opening the year as the top-ranked player to finishing with a fourth Grand Slam title under her belt, she maintained a level of consistency that few can rival. Now, as she lounges on the beaches of the Maldives, fans can enjoy seeing a different side of the World No.1 one that’s relaxed, playful, and recharging for whatever the next season has in store.