Unfortunately for trainer Jason Stacy, his head may remain Aryna Sabalenka’s canvass for quite some time.
Sabalenka stormed to her second Australian Open title on Saturday, winning 6-3, 6-2, completing her title defence without dropping a set.
One superstition that drew focus throughout the tournament was Sabalenka signing the head of Stacy before every match.
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The signature was on display again on Saturday night and after winning Sabalenka went a step further, patting Stacy’s head after making her way over to her box after the win.
In their post-match press conference, Sabalenka’s coach Anton Dubrov warned Stacy the artwork “might get worse”.
“Now they’re trying to say I’ve got to get a tattoo of this on my head. I’m like, I don’t know about that,” Stacy said.
“It’s just going to start spreading. No, no. Just for now. Every tournament we always find some thing we’re doing and we just kind of go with that.”
Stacy revealed Sabalenka had also sometimes written “random things” on his ear.
“Today was my name in case I get lost. Remember my name,” he said.
Sabalenka said after the match her ability to be calmer on court than she had previously been was a key to her success and dynamic with her team.
“It’s actually good that I’m two different people on and off the court, because if I would be the same person that I’m on the court off the court, I think I wouldn’t have my team around me, and I
think I would be alone (smiling),” she said.
“But yeah, I mean, it takes me so much time to kind of like become who I am right now on court, to have this control myself, and to understand myself better. Yeah, it’s been a long journey and way to go.
“I just said it, like, I’m going to retire after today. (Laughter.) But, no, too early, I think. Can still do something else.
“But, yeah, it takes me a little while to become who I am right now.”
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