Aryna Sabalenka swims with sharks on holiday after missing out on women's tennis's biggest £4m payday

Aryna Sabalenka has been getting over her end-of-season heartbreak by swimming alongside circling sharks in the Maldives.

The four-time Grand Slam winner took flight to the Indian Ocean earlier in the week after bringing her season to a close at the WTA Finals.

She had headed out after her straight-sets defeat to Elena Rybakina in the Riyadh final, a result that denied her a record-breaking £3.98million payday and capped a demanding year.

And her Maldives break quickly took on a more adventurous tone, with the Belarusian showing off her exotic trip on Instagram, which included a guided swim with several reef sharks. 

Wearing a yellow bikini and a snorkel mask, she could be seen moving slowly through shallow, clear water while the sharks passed close by. 

At one point she floated still as two of them crossed underneath her, before a third approached from the side. Sabalenka made sure to hold her position throughout the nervy encounter.

The clip formed part of a wider holiday update as she continued her break with her boyfriend, Brazilian entrepreneur Georgios Frangulis.

The pair had been spending time at a tropical retreat, with Sabalenka using the trip to switch off after a long run of high-pressure events.

After the WTA Finals, she had spoken about her season with a sense of perspective.

'After a while, I actually feel great. I lost, but she played amazingly. I think I did my best. It didn't work, but I'm leaving this tournament proud of myself and everything we've achieved this year,' she said.

She added that the break would give her space to reflect, saying: 'Now it's time to sit down in the Maldives, maybe drink some tequila and analyse my season, my behavior and emotions.'

Sabalenka reached major finals in Melbourne, Paris and New York this year, claiming her second consecutive US Open title in September.

She argued that her emotional control had been one of her biggest steps forward, especially during her successful US Open defence.

'There were a few moments when I was this close to just let it go. I was like "C'mon now, you have to stay focused. Keep going, keep trying." It's really helped me.'

The 27-year-old is due to resume her pre-season preparation in December ahead of the 2026 campaign.