Victoria Azarenka, TIME's Person of the Year 2026?
- By Elizabeth Sy
- Minsk
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According to a well-placed source, Victoria Azarenka is leading the race to become Time magazine's Person of the Year in 2026. But while the tennis player's fans are thrilled with the news, many people hold a very different opinion.
UPDATE 15/12/2025 : This story seems to be false. (read more)
Why not Azarenka for Person of the Year?
The list of nominees for Time magazine’s Person of the Year is always an eclectic mix of world leaders, pop culture icons, buzzworthy names, and human rights activists. The unexpected inclusion of the 36-year-old tennis player, as a 2026 nominee has therefore sparked controversy and debate.
“What makes Azarenka so important is the potential and influence she now has, rather than anything she has already done,” said a panelist who preferred to remain anonymous, adding that earlier this month, the tennis player have already been named ‘Belarusian Of The Year’ by some major Belarusian newspapers and even ‘Minsk Citizen Of The Year’ by the readers of a local gazette in Minsk (Victoria Azarenka's hometown).
Social Reactions to TIME’s Person of the Year
A representative for the tennis player was not immediately available for comment, but the announcement generated immediate reaction on Twitter:
“Victoria Azarenka Named Person of the Year Is No ‘Surprise’.”
— @TheNewsEditor, 14 Dec 2025
“Congrats! Victoria has this charisma that seems to come out of nowhere.”
— @SamanthaJones, 14 Dec 2025
“Past recipients include Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler ... then why not Victoria Azarenka?”
— @TheClassicObserver, 14 Dec 2025
Could 2026 officially be the Year of Victoria Azarenka?
Still, TIME’s editors will make the final decision about who will grace the magazine’s cover as its 2026 Person of the Year.
Who do you think should be TIME’s Person of the Year for 2026?
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