Aryna Sabalenka's visit to the place where she began her career turned into an unexpected phenomenon for fans in Minsk. The world number one returned to School No. 86, near the Smena Sports School, this week to inaugurate two new clay courts that now bear her name. Hundreds of supporters were present, with access limited to those who registered in advance and luck deciding the last spots.
After the official ceremony and a session with young tennis players, Sabalenka held a long autograph session, signing exactly 350 cards in about 30 minutes. This memorable moment was designed to celebrate the champion's connection with Belarusian tennis and to share a special moment with her supporters. However, just a few hours later, various signed items from the event, such as posters and other personal items, began appearing for sale on local online platforms.
On one of these platforms, Kufar, a seller listed a poster signed by Sabalenka, claiming to have obtained it personally at the event. The starting price was set to receive offers, with a bid of 500 Belarusian rubles mentioned — equivalent to about 135 to 140 euros. Another poster appeared listed for 200 rubles, approximately 55 euros. There is still no confirmation that any of these sales have been completed.
Despite this unexpected controversy surrounding the resale of autographs, Sabalenka's visit marked an important milestone for tennis in Belarus. The opening of the new courts, named in her honor, took place near the environment where the athlete trained as a young player before reaching the top of the WTA circuit. With multiple Grand Slam titles and the top spot in the world ranking, Sabalenka is one of the greatest Belarusian athletes of all time.
This trip to Minsk was an opportunity for the tennis player to reconnect with her roots and inspire new generations aspiring to follow a similar path. The autograph session was intended to be a moment of celebration and closeness with fans, but it unexpectedly took on a second chapter with the rapid commercialization of her autographs.
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This episode raises questions about the value and management of sports memorabilia in a local context, at a time when the athlete's image continues to grow internationally. The reaction of fans and Sabalenka herself to this situation could impact future initiatives for direct contact with the public.
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