Aryna Sabalenka thinks she has the perfect gift idea for Carlos Alcaraz’s birthday this year.
Sabalenka is the world number one like Alcaraz, but they also share something else in common.
Both Alcaraz and Sabalenka were born on May 5, with the former just five years younger than the latter.
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After reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open, Sabalenka was asked about this as she revealed the gift idea she has for Alcaraz.
Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP via Getty Images
Aryna Sabalenka jokes about gift she would give to Carlos Alcaraz
After they both won the US Open last year, Sabalenka posted a TikTok video with Alcaraz following an interview on the Today Show.
When Sabalenka was asked what she would give Alcaraz for his birthday in her on-court interview after beating Iva Jovic, 6-3 6-0, she suggested that another video could be on the cards.
“What would I give him?” responded Sabalenka. “I would offer him a TikTok dance probably and I would like to receive yes as an answer.
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“I mean, I don’t know what else…Yeah, last year I forced him to do it so I feel like I can do it again.”
Sabalenka and Alcaraz have their birthdays at the same time as the Italian Open this year, where both players are expected to be competing, which means that there is a possibility for this video to become reality.
Aryna Sabalenka explains what she does to relax during a Grand Slam
Showing why she is the world number one, Sabalenka has been very consistent at Grand Slams in recent years and has reached at least the quarterfinals of her last 13 major tournaments.
When asked about how she manages her time during Grand Slams, Sabalenka explained how she manages her time away from the court, including making TikTok videos and watching Netflix.
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“Honestly not many things changes,” Sabalenka said in her post-match press conference. “It’s, like, at the beginning of the tournament, there is a lot of things that I have to do for brands, a lot of TikToks that I have to do for my health (laughter), but no, I’m just trying to, you know, be focused on the match day, play the match, and then until the, I don’t know, next match I’m just trying to stay relaxed and do things that I like, go for dinners, stay in the room, watch Netflix.
“It’s always different. Sometimes go for shopping. I just, I don’t know, follow — I don’t know. I trust myself. Whatever I feel like doing, I go for it, and that’s it.”
Sabalenka now has a day off to do all of those things ahead of her fourth Australian Open semifinal, where she will play Elina Svitolina.
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Svitolina knocked out Coco Gauff, but she has only won one of her six previous meetings against Sabalenka.
Sabalenka will look to continue this dominance over Svitolina when they play their semifinal on Thursday, January 29.