Tennis star Aryna Sabalenka got a reality check from doctors after she made one wild claim about tequila

Professional athletes are always looking for that competitive edge.

But sometimes they cross the line into wishful thinking territory.

And tennis star Aryna Sabalenka got a reality check from doctors after she made one wild claim about tequila.

Tennis champion promotes tequila as wellness drink

World’s number one women’s tennis player Aryna Sabalenka recently sat down with Air Mail magazine to discuss her partnership with Maestro Dobel, the official tequila sponsor of the U.S. Open.

The Belarusian tennis star didn’t just talk about taste preferences.

She made some bold health claims that caught medical experts off guard.

"You just sip it as a whiskey or Cognac, but it has a better taste, and the next day you feel great," Sabalenka told the outlet about reposado tequila.

The tennis champion claimed tequila is "much better on the body" compared to other alcoholic beverages.

The tennis star isn’t alone in promoting tequila as a healthier alcohol choice.

Big names like Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, LeBron James and Michael Jordan have all jumped on the tequila bandwagon, either launching their own brands or endorsing existing ones.

They’re all pushing the same message – that tequila is somehow cleaner and better for you than other spirits.

Industry executives are more than happy to support these claims.

"We hear it constantly: Tequila makes people feel lighter, less weighed-down and more energized compared to other liquors," Jon-Paul Fortunati, CEO of Cazcanes Tequila, told Fox News Digital.

Brent Hocking, founder of Tequila Purisima, said tequila stands out for the transparency of its ingredients, especially additive-free tequila made from 100% Blue Weber agave.

Medical experts deliver harsh reality about alcohol claims

But health experts weren’t buying the wellness marketing spin.

Dr. Michael Genovese, chief medical advisor at Ascendant New York, cut straight to the heart of the matter.

"Ethanol is ethanol," Genovese told Fox News Digital. "Drink enough and a hangover will come no matter the purity."

The doctor explained that genetics, biology, hydration levels and muscle mass all affect how a person reacts to alcohol.

"This can explain why one person swears tequila gives them the cleanest buzz while another insists it wrecks them," Genovese said.

He noted that Sabalenka’s physical condition as an elite athlete might explain her positive experience with tequila.

"Her muscle mass dilutes alcohol’s effects, her hydration and recovery habits blunt hangover severity, and tequila itself – when it’s high quality – has fewer congeners, adding to the effect," Genovese explained.

Lauren Manaker, a registered dietitian, stressed that no booze is truly "hangover-proof" and pointed out that the World Health Organization has classified all forms of alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen.

Health organizations worldwide agree that alcohol consumption carries risks regardless of the amount consumed.

The science behind alcohol’s impact on athletes

Look, here’s what’s really happening with these celebrity tequila endorsements.

Athletes like Sabalenka might genuinely feel better after drinking tequila compared to other spirits, but that doesn’t make it a health drink.

Even high-quality alcohol still interferes with sleep, performance, muscle repair and hydration according to medical experts.

For athletes, alcohol can mean slower recovery, reduced performance and a higher risk of injury due to increased inflammation and stress hormones.

Multiple research studies back up these concerns about alcohol and athletic performance.

One study in PLOS ONE showed that drinking alcohol after intense exercise significantly hampers muscle protein synthesis – even when athletes consume protein at the same time.

The findings revealed that alcohol interferes with the body’s muscle-building and repair processes.

Dr. Genovese delivered the bottom line that cuts through all the marketing nonsense.

"The bottom line is, tequila is not a health drink. It’s just a relatively cleaner alcohol option compared to some others," he stated.

The celebrity endorsement game has turned every spirit into a supposed wellness product.

But when medical experts examine the actual science, the claims don’t hold up to scrutiny.

¹ Deirdre Bardolf, "Aryna Sabalenka says tequila makes her ‘feel great,’ though experts say it’s not a hangover elixir," Fox News, September 2, 2025.