Aryna Sabalenka has branded a reporter a “joke” after he appeared to suggest the world No 1 had spent too much time at parties and promotional events ahead of the US Open.
The Belarusian reacted angrily during a press conference in New York following her second-round victory over Polina Iatcenko, which she won 6-1, 6-1.
A reporter began asking how she was finding her mood now the tournament had started, referring to the “parties and fun” surrounding the previous week. Sabalenka interrupted before he had finished.
“You guys are, like, a joke,” she said. “Parties, fun… like, why would you even say that? Why would you even think about that? What kind of question is that?”
Sabalenka, who has been active at a series of brand events before the tournament, rejected the suggestion that those commitments had come at the expense of her preparation.
“Just because I posted, like, some activities with brands, and you think that I’ve been partying, not training?” she asked.
The reporter attempted to clarify that he was referring to the number of appearances and sponsorship commitments top players are expected to fulfil, rather than accusing Sabalenka of neglecting her practice. She remained unconvinced, responding: “You literally said that. Next question.”
When the reporter later asked whether she had become more serious and combative now the competition was under way, Sabalenka replied sarcastically: “Oh, yeah, I wasn’t serious before that.”
As the moderator moved on, she added one final remark: “Think before you say stuff.”
The exchange followed an earlier confrontation after Sabalenka’s first-round win over Camila Osorio, when she questioned why the reporter believed she had not been focused on tennis during the build-up to the tournament.
Sabalenka, the reigning US Open champion, next faces world No 92 Kamilla Rakhimova as she continues her bid for a third consecutive title in New York.
