Two-time Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka once again made her way into the semifinals of the Grand Slam after she defeated Iva Jovic in straight sets. However, after the final point, it was her sense of humor and her flashy watch that really grabbed attention.
Aryna Sabalenka Gifts Her $120K Watch to Jelena Dokic
Sabalenka beat 18-year-old American Iva Jovic 6-3, 6-0 in the quarterfinal and is chasing her third Australian Open title in four years. The top seed took control right away with a 3-0 lead in the first set. 29th-seeded Jovic tried to fight back and even created break point chances. Still, the Belarusian saved all five break points she faced and hit seven aces.
The second set was completely one-sided. Sabalenka rushed to a 5-0 lead with two quick breaks. A double fault from the teenager made things even tougher for her, and the world No. 1 took the match from there. Even with such domination, Sabalenka made sure to give credit to Jovic in the post-match on-court interview.
Things then turned playful when former Yugoslavian-Australian player Jelena Dokic, who was interviewing Sabalenka, pointed out her diamond jewelry and her luxury watch. Dokic joked, “You need to recover well. It looks heavy. I think you should give it to me so that I look after it.” Sabalenka replied, “For you, anything, my dear,” and took off the watch and placed it on Dokic’s wrist.
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The watch was an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked “Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50,” worth around €101,600 ($120,000 approx.). The bold 41mm blue ceramic piece features a skeleton-style dial that showcases the brand’s inner workings. A special double-balanced wheel system is designed for greater accuracy. Its silver-toned finish and touches of pink gold are just as impressive.
Dokic asked the world No. 1 how much the watch costs, to which she replied, “A lot,” while laughing. Dokic, laughing but also a bit nervous, kept asking if the watch was insured. Sabalenka laughed and replied that she does have the insurance and said, “I know you. You’re going to give it back to me.”
“It’s a lot of money,” Sabalenka added. Dokic joked and promised she would return it right after the interview.
Sabalenka, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner Forced to Remove Watches
Sabalenka’s watch moment came while another kind of controversy was circulating about their fitness devices.
Earlier, both Sabalenka and Alcaraz were asked to take off their WHOOP fitness trackers before going on court. The request surprised many fans and commentators. These wearable devices measure factors such as heart rate, strain, sleep, and recovery. Many athletes use the data to manage their performance.
Alcaraz was stopped by the chair umpire before his fourth-round match and told he couldn’t wear the device during play. Sabalenka went through something similar in the event. The chair umpire also asked Sinner to remove the fitness device under his sweatband. The players removed the trackers, though they looked a bit disappointed and surprised.
The confusion stems from the fact that the ITF approves the use of WHOOP devices during matches. WHOOP founder Will Ahmed spoke out on X. “For those wondering, it’s called a whoop. And it’s not banned. In fact whoop is approved by the International Tennis Federation for in-match wear and poses no safety risk. Let the athletes measure their bodies!” he wrote.
