Jason Stacy is OK with Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka signing his head

At the 2024 Australian Open, two-time champion Aryna Sabalenka has been giving fitness coach Jason Stacy her autograph—whether he wants it or not.

But the signature just increased in value after the world No. 2 surged to her second Grand Slam victory, and Stacy clarified he’s more than ok with what has become a fun pre-match ritual.

“It might get worse,” Stacy joked alongside Sabalenka’s coach Anton Dubrov, who took part in a rollicking post-match press conference following Sabalenka’s 6-3, 6-2 victory over Zheng Qinwen.

“Now they're trying to say I've got to get a tattoo of this on my head. I'm like, I don't know about that.”

Stacy’s signed dome caught notice earlier in the week, with Sabalenka laughing it off on court after she reached the quarterfinals.

“We just like to do weird shit, guys!” she exclaimed, shouting out her team.

“On match days it's just an autograph, signature,” Stacy explained on Saturday. “Then she writes random things on my ear. So today was my name in case I get lost. Remember my name.

“She said next one she's going to write: Please follow me on my Instagram page. We'll both see. Just for fun.”

The practice has become emblematic of Team Sabalenka’s efforts to keep things light for the 25-year-old, who would often play under heavy stress at major tournaments.

Sabalenka honed her current team following the COVID-19 pandemic, elevating Dubrov from hitting partner to head coach after working with Dmitry Tursunov throughout her initial rise in the WTA rankings.

From a low point in 2022, highlighted by Sabalenka’s pronounced serving woes, the team has bonded more tightly together, culminating with the former world No. 1 becoming the most consistent Grand Slam player on tour.

“I think it's crucial,” Stacy said of the team’s light-hearted atmosphere. “It's an important key element to any performance, to development. As you guys know, it's all year nonstop, just pressure, pressure, pressure, attention, attention, trying to get better, trying to get better.

“People learn better and they pay more attention and they're a bit more fresh, if they have a little bit of fun, have a bit of creativity. I think it's good to have that mix, which again, allows her to have that good balance of emotional control.

“If you understand, Aryna, she's having fun, trying to have fun everywhere,” Dubrov added, “but we're also trying to keep it like a balance: Fun and discipline. She keeps working, she's enjoying the process.

“When she's on the court, it's okay, pressure, pressure, but it's also some fun. Just add in it, and she tries to find it also. She's more smiling right now on the court.”

Sabalenka certainly has plenty to smile about: fresh off a second major victory, she fulfilled her dream she and her late father had of winning two majors by the age of 25, and is back in pursuit of the No. 1 ranking, which she lost to Iga Swiatek at the end of last year.

“It's been a process,” Stacy said of Sabalenka’s emotional maturity. “It's not like some overnight thing…and it's not guaranteed it's going to be that way every week. But that's what makes her so dangerous and so powerful as well is that part of her. It's beautiful.”