Aryna Sabalenka abruptly ended a probing interview about her off‑court engagements after securing a swift second‑round victory at the US Open. 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 iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The match itself was a showcase of Sabalenka’s dominant form, but the post‑match press conference quickly turned contentious when a reporter raised the subject of her recent public appearances and brand‑related events. Having already faced similar inquiries following her first‑round win, Sabalenka was visibly irritated.
She emphasized that her off‑court commitments—social media posts, brand activations, and occasional public appearances—had not interfered with her preparation for the Grand Slam. "You guys are, like, a joke," she snapped, clearly frustrated. "Parties, fun. Why would you even bring that up?
What kind of question is that? Just because I posted some pictures with sponsors, you assume I’ve been partying instead of training?" Her tone suggested that she felt the line of questioning was both irrelevant and disrespectful. When the reporter attempted to clarify, saying, "I’m not saying you go to parties, I’m just noting you have many events and appearances," Sabalenka cut him off sharply: "You literally said that.
Next question." The exchange highlighted a growing tension between athletes and the media, especially when journalists probe into personal schedules that athletes consider private or unrelated to performance. The interview continued with the reporter reiterating, "For anyone who’s unclear, I’m not suggesting Aryna is having fun at parties," to which Sabalenka responded curtly, "Thanks, yeah." She then added, "I’m saying she makes a lot of appearances and there’s a lot to do and lots of events, OK?" The reporter persisted, prompting Sabalenka to reply, "OK. Move on," before moving on to a new line of questioning. The next question asked whether Sabalenka had become more serious and combative now that the tournament was underway.
Sabalenka’s answer was a brief, "Oh, yeah, I wasn’t serious before that. Next question. Think before you say stuff." This terse reply underscored her desire to keep the focus on her tennis rather than her personal life. Sabalenka, who is currently world No.
1, is chasing a third consecutive US Open title—a feat only achieved by legends such as Serena Williams and Chris Evert. She will face Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova on Friday, aiming for her 17th straight victory at Flushing Meadows. In other tournament news, Carlos Alcaraz, returning from a lengthy wrist injury, displayed his resilience by overcoming an early set loss to Portugal’s Jaime Faria, winning 4‑6, 6‑0, 6‑3, 6‑2 to reach the third round.
Alcaraz rallied with eight consecutive games after the first set, demonstrating the calm and focus he believes will carry him forward. "After that I just tried to be focused, tried to stay calm and I’m thinking good things are going to happen again," he said, noting his 16‑match Grand Slam winning streak. Peruvian teenager Ignacio Buse added a historic chapter to his family’s US Open legacy.
He secured his first main‑draw win by surviving a grueling five‑set battle against American Marcos Giron, prevailing 3‑6, 6‑3, 6‑3, 6‑7(6), 6‑1 after nearly four hours of play on Court Six. Buse’s victory echoed his grandfather Eduardo’s 1958 triumph, marking a rare inter‑generational achievement. Reflecting on the mental strain, Buse explained, "It’s difficult to find calm in those situations, but in the fifth set I just tried to recover mentally. It’s a mental battle out there, and I just stayed calm.
It’s a very special moment." Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas also fought back from a set down to defeat South Africa’s Lloyd Harris, winning 6‑7(1‑7), 6‑3, 7‑6(7‑4), 6‑4. Tsitsipas, who shocked 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, beating Japanese qualifier Rei Sakamoto 6‑3, 7‑6(7‑2), 7‑5. Tiafoe’s steady performance keeps U.S.
hopes alive as the tournament progresses. The US Open remains broadcast live on Sky Sports from August 30, with streaming options available on the NOW platform and the Sky Sports app. Fans can also catch the upcoming Laver Cup at The O2 in London from September 25‑27, also shown on Sky Sports.
The tournament continues to deliver high‑stakes drama both on and off the court, as players balance the demands of elite competition with the ever‑present spotlight of media scrutiny.