By Martin Banks

Game,set and match….that’s an ambitious new deal between tennis superstar Aryna Sabalenka and the airline Emirates.

The world’s no.1 tennis player has agreed to become the company’s first tennis ambassador.

Emirates is currently the official airline of all four tennis Grand Slams worldwide and to mark the new deal, Sabalenka unveiled an Emirates A380 aircraft adorned with a special tennis-inspired livery celebrating its sponsorship of the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open.

The partnership caps a dominant period for the 27-year-old, who is now a four-time Grand Slam champion after claiming a second US Open in September last year. Sabalenka, who won back-to-back Australian Open titles in 2023 and 2024, before finishing as runner-up at AO25, has also been crowned the WTA Tour Player of the Year for the past two seasons.

 Reflecting on the announcement, Sabalenka shared: “In tennis, every little detail counts – so to align with a brand which matches my ambition and attention to detail makes this feel like a natural fit.

“Travelling in world-class comfort with Emirates has been key to my preparation. But this partnership represents much more than that – because it also highlights what we, as women in sport, can achieve on the world stage. I feel proud and excited to partner with Emirates, a brand whose values of quality and excellence closely align with mine.”

Boutros Boutros, Emirates’ Executive Vice President for Corporate Communications, Marketing & Brand said: “Aryna is not only a champion on the court but a global icon who inspires millions through her determination and professionalism – qualities that resonate strongly with our ethos at Emirates.

“With Dubai as our shared home, we already have a strong connection with Aryna, and this partnership allows us to elevate our engagement in a truly meaningful way.

“Together, we hope to create unique opportunities for fans to experience the Emirates journey, both in the air and at the heart of the sport. Whether it be by offering live tennis through our ice entertainment system, or a taste of Australia through our in-flight menu. Emirates can’t wait to see what Aryna can achieve at the Australian Open and beyond in 2026.”

Beyond tennis, Emirates’ sporting links spans horse racing through the Dubai World Cup and Team Godolphin; golf via the DP World Tour and cricket across all major ICC events.