Aryna Sabalenka abruptly ended a probing interview about her off‑court activities after securing a dominant second‑round victory at the US Open, turning the exchange into a heated confrontation with a member of the press. The Belarusian, who is the two‑time defending champion, dispatched Russian qualifier Polina Iatcenko in a swift 6‑1, 6‑1 rout that lasted just 53 minutes on the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium. Having already faced a similar line of questioning after her first‑round win, Sabalenka made it clear that her numerous public appearances and brand engagements have not interfered with her preparation for the Grand Slam.

"You guys are, like, a joke," she snapped when the reporter suggested that her social‑media posts and sponsorship events might be taking time away from training. "Parties, fun.

Why would you even ask that? What kind of question is that? Just because I posted some activities with brands, you think I'm partying instead of training?

What is that?" When the reporter tried to clarify, saying, "I'm saying that there are a lot of events and things like that. I'm not saying you go to the parties," Sabalenka cut him off, "You literally said that.

Next question." Her tone was unmistakably impatient, and she quickly moved the conversation back to the court. The interview continued with the journalist attempting to soften the tone: "For everyone who is unclear, I'm not suggesting that Aryna is having fun at these parties." Sabalenka responded curtly, "Thanks, yeah.

I'm saying that she makes a lot of appearances and there's a lot to do and lots of events, OK?" The reporter persisted, "OK. Move on," Sabalenka said, urging him to shift focus. The reporter then asked a more pointed question: "So, now that the tournament has started, do you find you're getting quite serious and combative?" Sabalenka answered with a hint of sarcasm, "Oh, yeah, I wasn't serious before that.

Next question. Think before you say stuff." Her frustration was evident, but she kept the discussion brief, eager to return to the match. Sabalenka, who currently sits at world No.

1, is chasing a third consecutive US Open title—a feat last achieved by legends such as Serena Williams and Chris Evert. She will face Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova on Friday, aiming for her 17th straight win at Flushing Meadows.

In other news from the tournament, Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz continued his comeback from a lengthy wrist injury, rallying from a set down to defeat Portugal’s Jaime Faria 4‑6, 6‑0, 6‑3, 6‑2 and advance to the third round. After falling behind early, Alcaraz seized momentum with an eight‑game winning streak that turned the match in his favor. "After that I just tried to be focused, tried to stay calm and I'm thinking that good things are going to happen again," Alcaraz said, noting that he is now on a 16‑match winning streak in Grand Slam events.

Peruvian qualifier Ignacio Buse added a new chapter to his family’s US Open legacy. He secured his first main‑draw victory by surviving a grueling five‑set battle against American Marcos Giron, winning 3‑6, 6‑3, 6‑3, 6‑7(6), 6‑1 after nearly four hours of play on Court Six. Buse’s triumph echoes his grandfather Eduardo’s historic win at the tournament in 1958, marking a rare multigenerational achievement.

Reflecting on the mental strain of the fifth set, Buse said, "It's difficult to find the calm in those situations, but in the fifth set, I just tried to recover mentally. It's a mental battle out there.

I just stayed calm. It's a very special moment." Greek contender Stefanos Tsitsipas also displayed resilience, overcoming a set deficit to beat South Africa’s Lloyd Harris 6‑7(1‑7), 6‑3, 7‑6(7‑4), 6‑4. The win follows Tsitsipas’s upset of 10th seed Arthur Fils in the opening round and sets up a clash with Czech 18th seed Jiri Lehecka.

American 11th seed Frances Tiafoe continued his quest to break a 23‑year drought for a home‑grown men’s champion in New York, dispatching Japanese qualifier Rei Sakamoto 6‑3, 7‑6(7‑2), 7‑5. His performance keeps the United States’ hopes alive as the tournament progresses. The US Open remains broadcast live on Sky Sports from August 30, with streaming options available on NOW and the Sky Sports app.

Fans can also enjoy related events such as the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from September 25‑27, all streamed without contractual obligations.