“You Guys Are Like a Joke”: Aryna Sabalenka Clashes with Reporter Over US Open Preparation

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka did not mince words during a tense post-match press conference at the US Open on Wednesday. After securing a dominant 6-1, 6-1 victory over Polina Iatcenko in the second round, the Belarusian star found herself on the defensive—not because of her opponent, but due to persistent questioning from the media regarding her off-court activities.

For the second consecutive press conference, reporters probed Sabalenka about her pre-tournament schedule, specifically questioning whether her brand appearances and promotional events were centered around “parties and fun.”

A Heated Exchange

Clearly frustrated by the implication that her professional focus had waned, Sabalenka interrupted the reporter mid-question to push back against the narrative.

“You guys are, like, a joke. Parties, fun… like, why would you even say that? Why would you even think about that? What kind of question is that?” she retorted.

The reigning champion emphasized that her social media presence, which documented various professional engagements, did not equate to a lack of training. “Just because I posted, like, some activities with brands, and you think that I’ve been partying, not training?” she added before firmly shutting down the line of questioning.

Reframing the Narrative

Once the discourse shifted back to tennis, Sabalenka offered insight into her current mindset. After a challenging middle stretch of the season, she appears to have found a more balanced perspective on her game.

“I’ve been working really hard, but I feel like I’m kind of moving away from trying to be perfect on court,” Sabalenka explained. “I know that you cannot be perfect, and I’m just trying to work with what I have right now.”

As she chases a third consecutive US Open title, the 28-year-old remains determined to break her Grand Slam drought, having not hoisted a major trophy since the Miami Open in March.

Reflecting on her journey, she acknowledged the difficulties she faced earlier this year but expressed confidence in her recovery. “I think I struggled a little bit in the middle of the season. Once again, I’m not going to defend myself or explain why, what happened, but I’m happy with my level,” she noted.

“I can definitely say that mentally I’m way stronger than I was in the middle of the season, and physically I also feel stronger. I feel like I’m on my level of play, and I just want to bring the right focus on the match every time.”

With her second-round statement victory, Sabalenka has signaled that her focus remains squarely on the court, regardless of the noise circulating in the press room.