Aryna Sabalenka abruptly ended a probing interview with a reporter after her dominant second‑round victory at the US Open, making it clear she would not entertain any more questions about how she spends her time off the court. The Belarusian, who is the two‑time defending champion, dispatched Russian qualifier Polina Iatcenko in just 53 minutes, winning 6‑1, 6‑1 on the main Arthur Ashe Stadium. The ease of her performance was starkly contrasted by the tension that followed when a journalist tried to discuss her off‑court commitments. Sabalenka, who has become well known for posting about her various brand collaborations and public appearances on social media, was asked whether her involvement in promotional events might be interfering with her preparation for the Grand Slam.
She fired back, calling the line of questioning "a joke" and insisting that her off‑court engagements have not compromised her training regimen. "Parties, fun – why would you even suggest that?
What kind of question is that? Just because I share some brand‑related activities, you think I'm partying instead of training?" she exclaimed. When the reporter attempted to clarify, saying, "I'm not saying you go to parties, I'm just noting you have a lot of events and appearances," Sabalenka interrupted sharply, "You literally said that. Next question." She then signaled that the conversation was over, urging the journalist to move on.
Later, the reporter pressed, "Now that the tournament has started, are you getting more serious and combative?" Sabalenka responded with a curt, "Oh, yeah, I wasn't serious before that. Next question. Think before you say stuff." Her irritation was evident, and she made it clear that she would not tolerate speculation about her dedication. The world No.
1, who is chasing a third consecutive US Open title – a feat achieved only by legends such as Serena Williams and Chris Evert – will face Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova on Friday. A win would mark her 17th straight match victory at Flushing Meadows, underscoring her dominance on the hard courts. In other tournament news, Carlos Alcaraz continued his resurgence after a lengthy wrist injury layoff. The Spanish star fought back from a set down to defeat Portugal's Jaime Faria 4‑6, 6‑0, 6‑3, 6‑2, advancing to the third round.
Alcaraz highlighted his mental approach, saying, "After that I just tried to stay focused, stay calm, and I believe good things will happen again." He is currently riding a 16‑match winning streak in Grand Slam competition. Peruvian hopeful Ignacio Buse added a historic chapter to his family's US Open legacy. Buse secured his first main‑draw victory by outlasting American Marcos Giron in a grueling five‑set marathon (3‑6, 6‑3, 6‑3, 6‑7(6), 6‑1) that lasted three hours and 48 minutes on Court Six. The win echoes the achievement of his grandfather, Eduardo Buse, who last recorded a US Open victory in 1958.
"Finding calm in those moments is tough, but in the fifth set I just tried to recover mentally," Ignacio explained, emphasizing the mental battle inherent in long matches. Greek contender Stefanos Tsitsipas also survived a tight contest, rallying from a set down to beat South Africa's Lloyd Harris 6‑7(1‑7), 6‑3, 7‑6(7‑4), 6‑4.
Tsitsipas, who pulled off an upset over 10th seed Arthur Fils in the opening round, now looks ahead to a clash with Czech 18th seed Jiri Lehecka. American 11th seed Frances Tiafoe continued his quest to end a 23‑year drought for a home‑grown men's champion in New York, defeating Japanese qualifier Rei Sakamoto 6‑3, 7‑6(7‑2), 7‑5. Tiafoe's win keeps the United States' hopes alive and adds further intrigue to the men's draw.
The US Open matches are being broadcast live on Sky Sports starting August 30, with streaming options available on NOW and the Sky Sports app, allowing fans to watch without a contract. The tournament also features other tennis events, such as the Laver Cup, which will be shown from September 25‑27 at The O2 in London on Sky Sports. Overall, Sabalenka's outburst highlights the growing tension between athletes' public personas and media scrutiny. While players increasingly use social platforms to promote sponsors and share glimpses of their lives outside competition, journalists often probe whether such activities might detract from performance.
Sabalenka's blunt dismissal of these questions underscores her focus on the court and her desire to keep the conversation centered on tennis, not off‑court speculation. As the tournament progresses, all eyes will remain on the defending champion to see if she can maintain her dominance while navigating the added pressure of media attention.