The agreement, revealed as Ms Sabalenka returns to the AO striving for a third Grand Slam title at Melbourne Park, builds on Emirates’ longstanding commitment to tennis as the ‘Official Airline’ of all four Grand Slams worldwide.
To mark the occasion, 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.
Dubai has served as a hub for Sabalenka’s training and preparation over the years, positioning her as a natural fit for Emirates.
“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,” said Ms Sabalenka.
“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.
“Stepping off this Emirates A380 in Melbourne I feel ready to make 2026 another year to remember.”
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.
The partnership will be amplified in a unique multi-channel campaign and brand collaboration to be unveiled later this spring. Ms Sabalenka will also be featured on Emirates’ award-winning ice in-flight entertainment system.
This year, ice will once again offer tennis fans flying to Australia the chance to watch matches live on Sport 24 and Sport 24 Extra on their ice inflight entertainment, ensuring they never miss a moment of the action while travelling. They can also join other fans to watch the matches in the A380 onboard lounge.
“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,” said Boutros Boutros, Emirates’ Executive Vice President for Corporate Communications, Marketing & Brand.
“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.”
The new Airbus A380 livery showcases a melange of tennis-inspired elements, with each Grand Slam logo framed within a tennis ball emblem and rendered in the tournament’s signature colours.
The Australian Open’s summer blue, Roland-Garros’ bold red-clay, Wimbledon’s signature green and purple, and the US Open’s striking yellow and blue combination are all creatively represented in the design.
The livery will remain in Emirates’ fleet for the coming years, with the first flight sporting this unique design having landed in Melbourne to mark the start of this year’s first Grand Slam tournament.
