Aryna Sabalenka shared a hilarious story behind her fitness coach Jason Stacy’s new tiger tattoo, which he got inked on his head as part of a bet with the tennis star. Fans were buzzing with excitement ahead of Sabalenka’s high-stakes US Open final against Jessica Pegula on September 8, as Stacy proudly sported the giant head tattoo in homage to Sabalenka’s own nickname: Tiger.

In a post-match interview after clinching her first US Open title, Sabalenka revealed the origins of this quirky bet. Stacy had promised Sabalenka that if she reached the US Open final, he would get the tattoo. When Sabalenka defeated Emma Navarro in the semi-final, Stacy made good on his word, appearing at the Arthur Ashe Stadium with the freshly inked tiger design on his head.

“Jason promised me if I make it to the finals, he’s gonna put it on his forehead. I wish it was a little bit lowerâ€æ it would be cooler right?” Sabalenka said.

Sabalenka went on to win the US Open 2024 women’s singles title, defeating Jessica Pegula in straight sets. The Belarusian needed just an hour and 53 minutes to secure the victory with a 7-5, 7-5 win on Saturday, September 7, at the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium. Pegula, playing in her maiden Grand Slam final, put up a strong fight, pushing Sabalenka in both sets. However, Sabalenka’s relentless power and precision saw her through, earning her the coveted US Open trophy.

This victory marked Sabalenka’s third major title, adding to her back-to-back Australian Open wins. The light-hearted bet with her coach provided a fun and memorable moment in what was already a historic tournament for Sabalenka.