Dominika Cibulková traveled to Langkawi with her children Jakub and Ninka after a turbulent period marked by divorce, weight gain and public scrutiny.
The former world No. 4 tennis player left Slovakia in mid-April 2026, initially presenting the trip as a vacation to escape media attention surrounding her separation from Michal Navara and the fallout from an attack on him outside their home. She kept the destination vague, sharing only a photo of a VIP lounge boarding pass from Vienna airport, prompting speculation among fans about whether she was headed to Singapore, Langkawi, or Bangkok.
The journey to the resort on Malaysia’s Langkawi archipelago took 30 hours and 13 minutes door-to-door, a duration she noted was made easier by her children flying first class — a privilege she said significantly eased the strain of long-haul travel with young kids. Upon arrival, she went straight to the beach with Jakub, then 5, and Ninka, then 3, saying, “It was worth it.”
Though, the trip was not purely recreational. The resort where she stayed promoted her visit on social media, announcing: “We are honored to welcome Slovak tennis professional Dominika Cibulková to our exclusive tennis stay in our rainforest sanctuary from April 17–19.” The hotel confirmed that guests could meet her in person or book private training sessions under the trees, though availability was limited.
During her stay, Cibulková posted photos in colorful swimwear that revealed her current physique. She acknowledged that the stress of her private life had led to a five-kilogram weight gain earlier in March, which she said disappointed her. Yet she insisted the change was not visible, adding that she “literally glowed” despite the challenge.
Her time in Langkawi coincided with ongoing fallout from a political controversy in Slovakia involving alleged paid influencer support for presidential candidate Peter Pellegrini. Though she had left the country to shield her children from media frenzy, she felt compelled to address accusations that she had been paid to endorse Pellegrini. In a public statement, she said: “I have a personal relationship with the president and respect him on a human level. As a former professional athlete who had the honor to represent Slovakia among the world’s best athletes, I form my opinions independently and stand by them. I expressed my support from my own conviction, not for money. It saddens me that the authenticity of every public statement is now naturally questioned. I distance myself unequivocally from any such speculation.”
Despite her efforts to disconnect, the trip did not insulate her from home. She admitted she continued to monitor events in Slovakia although her children played carelessly on the beach, highlighting the difficulty of escaping public life even across continents.
Her decision to combine rest with professional engagement reflects a broader pattern among elite athletes navigating personal transitions — using familiar routines like tennis to regain stability while fulfilling obligations that sustain their public presence.
The weight fluctuation she described underscores how emotional strain from high-profile separations can manifest physically, even for athletes accustomed to strict physical regimens, and how public figures often face amplified scrutiny over natural bodily changes.
By speaking out on the Pellegrini controversy despite being abroad, she demonstrated that geographic distance does not equate to disengagement from national discourse, particularly when one’s integrity is perceived to be under attack.
Why did Dominika Cibulková choose Langkawi for her trip?
She selected the Langkawi resort in northwestern Malaysia because it offered both a secluded beach environment for her children and an exclusive tennis program that allowed her to maintain professional connections during her time away.
How did she respond to allegations that she was paid to support Peter Pellegrini?
She stated that her support for the president came from personal conviction, not financial incentive, and expressed sadness that public statements are now routinely questioned for authenticity.