Tiger Team: Aryna Sabalenka shares matching temporary tattoos with fitness coach Jason Stacy

NEW YORK—Aryna Sabalenka has used her team as good luck charms in past Grand Slam outings but fitness coach Jason Stacy took things to a new level on Saturday.

Sitting in the box while his pupil took on Jessica Pegula, Stacy could be seen sporting giant head tattoo in homage to Sabalenka’s own ink-inspired nickname: Tiger.

“It's permanent,” Sabalenka joked after defeating Pegula to win her third Grand Slam title.

“No, but honestly, I forgot about that, but I think in Washington there is one girl, she's my fan, she's supporting me and she always come up with some cool stuff related to my name.

She brought these temporary tattoos, and Jason promised me that if I make it to the finals he's gonna make it, he's gonna put it on his forehead.

“I wish it would be a little bit lower, like right here would be cooler, right?” she added with a laugh.

Sabalenka subsequently revealed most of her team, led by coach Anton Dubrov, were wearing similar temporary tattoos in various spots, the former world No. 1 gesturing to the face and arms for reference.

The move was a departure from Sabalenka’s 2024 Australian Open ritual of signing Stacy’s bald head, and the world No. 2 was already brainstorming new ideas for when the team travels back to Melbourne in January.

“Just always come up with something new,” she joked with Stacy and Dubrov, who were both in attendance for the post-trophy press conference. “It was signature, and now it's, like, tiger tattoo. I'm really curious what's going to be next, Jason. I was about to say he would color his hair!

“Maybe Anton will come up with some fun stuff, right? Like pink or purple hair, why not?”

Sabalenka’s team has been critical to her rise up the rankings, having worked with the same coaching staff since 2020. Team Sabalenka has formed a strong bond over the last four years, even making cameos on the 26-year-old’s bourgeoning Tik Tok page.

“The best advice I would give is to surround yourself with the right people,” Sabalenka said back before the Cincinnati Open, “people you can trust, people you can talk to about anything. It’s so important to have someone you can talk through whatever’s going on.”

With the Asian Swing and WTA Finals on the horizon, Team Tiger will look to end the 2024 season on as high a note as they hit this summer, compiling a 12-match win streak through title runs in Cincinnati and Flushing Meadows.