World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka took part in the opening ceremony of two new Tigerhood clay courts, built with the support of tennis media project First&Red at School No. 86 in Minsk, adjacent to the Smena tennis academy.
The opening was timed to coincide with Sabalenka's visit to Minsk before the start of the North American hard-court swing. Accompanying her to the Belarusian capital were her fiancé, Georgios Frangulis, and her dog, Ash.
The location was chosen with special meaning. It was here that Sabalenka attended school and first began her journey in tennis at the nearby Smena academy.
The courts' design concept and the name Tigerhood are inspired by the tigress — a symbol of strength and grace that has become closely associated with Sabalenka throughout her career. Speaking during the ceremony, the world No. 1 said she hopes the new courts will help young players at Smena develop their clay-court skills, one of her favorite surfaces.
Around 1,000 people attended the event. Following the official ceremony, Sabalenka conducted a tennis clinic for young players, signed autographs, and participated in a public talk, where she discussed her plans for the remainder of the season.
Aryna Sabalenka, World No. 1 and First&Red ambassador:
"Thank you all for coming! It's incredible to see so many kids here supporting me and giving me the energy to compete at the biggest tournaments.
I started my own journey at Smena, went through every step of the process, and eventually reached the top of world tennis. I truly hope these beautiful new courts will help develop the next generation of stars — players I may one day meet across the net."
Valentin Golovanov, Managing Shareholder of Fonbet, First&Red's official partner:
"Aryna Sabalenka is not only the best tennis player in the world — she is also a graduate of Smena. There are very few things left in this world that cannot be imitated. One of them is sincerity. Aryna's authenticity, strength of character, determination, and dedication to her craft have made her a true role model for thousands of children.
The genuine emotions of the kids who cheer for Aryna cannot be imitated either. That's why these courts are more than just a gift to her hometown and her school — they are an investment in children's dreams. We believe that every new generation of Smena players who steps onto these courts will see in front of them someone who started in exactly the same place and went on to achieve her dream of becoming the world's No. 1 player."
