World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka had a tense exchange with a reporter following her straight-sets victory over Polina Iatcenko at the U.S. Open on Wednesday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium. During the press conference, Sabalenka reacted strongly to a question regarding her mood and focus, stating, "You guys are, like, a joke." This incident marks the second time Sabalenka has had a contentious interaction with the media since the tournament began on Sunday.
The question posed to her suggested that she may not have been focused in the lead-up to the tournament, referencing the previous week's activities. Sabalenka responded, "Just because I posted, like, some activities with brands, and you think that I’ve been partying, not training?" When the reporter attempted to clarify their question, Sabalenka insisted that the implication was clear, stating, "You literally said that."
The reporter tried to explain that they were referring to the numerous events and sponsorship obligations that players typically engage in before the tournament, but Sabalenka appeared frustrated and requested to move on to another question. She concluded the exchange by advising, "Think before you say stuff."
Sabalenka won her match against Iatcenko with a score of 6-1, 6-1 and is set to face Kamilla Rakhimova in the third round of the U.S. Open.