Aryna Sabalenka celebrates her mother Yuliya's birthday

Aryna Sabalenka wished her mother Yuliya a happy birthday on Monday (April 24).

Sabalenka recently contested the WTA 500 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. Featuring in the final of the tournament for the third straight year, the Belarusian was unable to cross the finish line yet again.

In what was a rematch of last year’s final, Sabalenka was outclassed by World No. 1 Iga Swiatek 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday. The result means Sabalenka has now completed a hat-trick of runner-up finishes in Stuttgart.

Putting aside Sunday’s loss, Aryna Sabalenka took to social media to celebrate her mother's birthday. The tennis player shared two lovely pictures of her mother Yuliya Sabalenka to commemorate the occasion.

“Happy birthday mommy,” Sabalenka wrote on her Instagram story.

Sabalenka on Instagram

Sabalenka shares a close bond with her family. She has been seen in the company of her mother and younger sister Tonechka, as well as her boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov, during tournaments.

The World No. 2’s mother often makes social media posts dedicated to her, celebrating her achievements.

The 2023 Australian Open champion also recently credited her father Sergey, a former hockey player, for getting her into tennis. She considered Sergey her biggest source of support until his untimely death in 2019, and even dedicated her first Grand Slam title to him.

"My father made me a really tough person without actually knowing that. The way he was trying to motivate me, the way he was trying to raise me, the things he was fighting through, he was a really tough person. He was a great example," Sabalenka said after her Australian Open win.

Aryna Sabalenka reaches Madrid to contest the third WTA 1000 event of the year

Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek at the Stuttgart Open 2023

A day after her loss to Iga Swiatek in the Stuttgart final, Aryna Sabalenka is already gearing up for the next event – the WTA 1000 Madrid Open.

Sabalenka shared a story on social media suggesting that she had already reached the Spanish capital in the hunt for her third title of 2023, after her Adelaide International and Australian Open glory.

Aryna Sabalenka, who was the Madrid Open champion in 2021, faced an opening-round defeat at the tournament in 2022. With no points to defend, the 24-year-old will hope to gain a significant number of points this year.

She received a first-round bye and will contest her opening match against the winner of the clash between Sorana Cirstea and Lauren Davis in the Round of 64.

The Madrid Open is the third WTA 1000 event of the year, after Indian Wells and Miami. Sabalenka reached the final of the Indian Wells tournament, where she was beaten by Elena Rybakina.