Aryna Sabalenka shared a very interesting anecdote during her appearance on the Jay Shetty Podcast as the Belarusian claims she shut down a Maria Sharapova comparison when she was just nine or 1
When Sabalenka first came to the Tour, it didn’t take long before she started making some notable results and establishing herself as one of the most promising players. But there was another thing she was recognizable for – her very loud grunting on the court.
Anyone familiar with tennis knows that Sharapova’s grunting was quite something. And according to the current top-ranked player in the women’s game, someone compared her to the Russian tennis icon when she was just a little girl
Sabalenka recalls being compared to Sharapova: No, I’m future Sabalenka
“This story is not like I remember that, but I think it perfectly shows my personality when I was a kid, and someone came to me because I was grunting while hitting the ball, and someone came to me calling me Sharapova, and I looked at the person, saying like, ‘No, I’m future Sabalenka.’ You know, I was a kid, I was like what, nine or 10, and saying that I was just like when my mom told me the story, I kind of like was proud of myself,” the world No. 1 recalled on the Jay Shetty Podcast.
If you can recall, Sharapova very directly and bluntly shut down critics surrounding her loud grunting in one of her interviews.
“Tennis is an individual sport and I’m an individual player. If they have to fine me, go ahead, because I’d rather get fined than lose a match because I had to stop grunting. I’ve done this ever since I started playing tennis and I’m not going to change,” she said in one of her interviews.
Meanwhile, after winning this past US Open, Sabalenka came one Grand Slam title away from equaling Sharapova’s five Major wins.
🔴 “Betrayed by His Own Blood: Father of Utah Gunman Helped Expose Son Who Assassinated Activist Charlie Kirk”
Authorities have revealed that the suspected assassin of conservative activist Charlie Kirk was turned in by his own father.
The suspect, identified as Tyler Robinson, 22, of Washington County, Utah, was arrested at 10 p.m. on September 11—33 hours after Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that Robinson’s father recognized his son in surveillance footage released by investigators. He urged him to surrender and then contacted a family friend, a young pastor, who ultimately alerted police.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox, speaking at a September 12 press conference, praised the family’s courage, saying they “did the right thing.” Robinson, who reportedly became increasingly political in recent years, had expressed disdain for Kirk at family dinners, describing him as “hateful” and “spreading hate.”
Robinson now faces charges of aggravated murder, discharging a firearm causing serious injury, and obstruction of justice. A Utah judge has ordered him held without bail at Utah County Jail. Court records show he has no prior criminal history.
Security footage showed the gunman climbing onto the roof of a building across from the venue, opening fire, then leaping down and fleeing into a nearby neighborhood. Investigators later recovered the rifle believed to be the murder weapon, along with chilling evidence: bullets etched with messages. One shell casing was engraved with lyrics from the Italian protest song “Bella Ciao,” while an unfired round carried the words “Take this, fascist!”
Discord messages obtained from Robinson’s roommate revealed discussions about retrieving a hidden rifle, stashing it in the bushes, and wrapping it in a cloth. He also mentioned an engraved scope.
Despite the violent nature of the crime, Governor Cox said investigators currently believe Robinson acted alone, though the probe is ongoing.
Kirk, 31, was widely recognized as a rising star in the conservative movement and a close ally of former President Donald Trump. Trump, speaking at the 9/11 memorial ceremony at the Pentagon, called Kirk “a legend” and announced he would be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
