WATCH: Aryna Sabalenka gives DEATH stare after being urged to remove sports wear at Australian Open

Aryna Sabalenka was engaged in a bizarre moment in the buildup to her first-round game at the 2026 Australian Open, with the Belarusian being urged by the chair umpire to remove a wearable piece of tech she was sporting. The World No.1 seemed clearly angry with the decision, but the strange moment did not really make much of a difference as she made short work of her opponent to get her campaign in Melbourne in style.

Ahead of Sabalenka's first-round game against 20-year-old Tiantsoa Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah from France, the chair umpire told the Belarusian to remove her 'whoop', which is a screenless wearable device that provides round-the-clock fitness updates. After listening to the Umpire's instructions, the two-time former Australian open champion gave a death stare to her team.

When it comes to tennis, Aryna Sabalenka did not get off the best starts against her 118th-ranked opponent, getting broken in the very first game of the competition. However, the 22-time career singles title winner, watched by the legendary duo of ROd Laver and Roger Federer, bounced back in style and eventually won the match 6-4, 6-1.

Aryna Sabalenla opens up after securing Australian Open 2026 1R win

In her post-match, on-court interview, Aryna Sabalenka explained how nervous she was to play in front of Rod Laver and Roger Federer. The Belarusian player, claiming she was avoiding eye contact with the Australian and the Swiss icon during the game, said: