Aryna Sabalenka Responds to Party Question at US Open

Defending US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka beat Russian qualifier Polina Iatcenko 6-1, 6-1 in 53 minutes before sharply rejecting a post-match question about her pre-tournament activities.

Sabalenka, described as the world number one, was in complete control during the second-round victory. After the match, however, the focus briefly shifted from the scoreline to a press-conference exchange in which she was asked about “parties and fun” before the tournament.

The 28-year-old cut short the question and challenged the suggestion that her off-court appearances had affected her preparation. “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?” Sabalenka said.

Sabalenka rejects suggestion over preparation

Sabalenka said that social-media posts showing activities with brands should not be interpreted as evidence that she had been neglecting her work before the US Open.

“Just because I posted, like, some activities with brands, and you think that I’ve been partying, not training?” she added after stopping the reporter’s question.

Her response followed a commanding performance against Iatcenko, with Sabalenka conceding only two games across the straight-sets match. The result sent the defending champion through after less than an hour on court and maintained her push for a third consecutive US Open title.

Sabalenka said she was pleased with both her current level and her concentration, while also explaining that she is moving away from an expectation of perfection during matches.

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

The remarks offered an insight into the approach she is taking as the tournament progresses. Rather than presenting every performance as a pursuit of an error-free display, Sabalenka said she is focused on responding to the level available to her on the day.

That outlook came after a second-round display in which the defending champion took control early and did not allow Iatcenko a route back into the contest. The 6-1, 6-1 scoreline underlined the authority of Sabalenka’s opening week performance.

Defending champion targets another US Open title

Sabalenka arrived at the US Open having won the previous two editions and will now look to complete a third straight title run. Her second-round win over Iatcenko keeps that objective alive, while her comments made clear that she believes her preparation and focus are where they need to be.

She acknowledged that the middle portion of her season had been difficult, but said she now feels stronger both mentally and physically. Sabalenka did not expand on the reasons for those earlier struggles, saying she was not going to defend herself or explain what happened.

“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,” Sabalenka said.

She added: “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.”

For Sabalenka, the immediate takeaway from the second round was straightforward: a rapid straight-sets win, confidence in her level, and a firm response to questions about how she prepared for her title defence.