Tennis star Aryna Sabalenka snaps back at reporter at US Open after 'parties' 'joke'
Aryna Sabalenka hit out after a reporter questioned her off-tournament activities during a press conference after her US Open second-round win.
This comes after she too responded to backlash about her outfit at this year's event.
The 28-year-old professional tennis player first took on critics who weren’t happy with her look as she took on Novak Djokovic for a mixed doubles match at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
Her Nike was that of a bright orange sports bra and matching shorts, a black jersey-style top and gold jewellery.
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With some calling it inappropriate, she went on to claim the basketball-style design is Nike's way of paying tribute to sports.
She said: “I love basically everything about my outfit. I love that it’s different. I love that this outfit is bold. Whatever people saying on internet, I heard they probably didn’t like it … it’s funny for me.”
"Who cares what people think?" Sabalenka said. "I love it."
She continued, “This year it was super special for Nike. It was always related to different sports. Surfing for the Australian Open, ballet for Roland Garros, cricket for Wimbledon. Now it’s basketball and we’re in New York. Isn’t it the perfect fit?”
But now, there has been a different type of questioning she’s come under, and this time it’s about her personal life and not what she wears on the court.
In the press conference just yesterday (September 2) after the tennis star thrashed Russian qualifier Polina Iatcenko 6-1 6-1 in 53 minutes, she was asked about her activities last week.
The reporter asked her: “How are you finding your mood now that the tournament has started? Obviously last week it’s lots of parties and fun and stuff like that..”
Immediately, Sabalenka shut the line of questioning down, claiming that she wasn’t partying and didn’t like the insinuation that she had been having ‘fun’.
She quipped back: "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?
"Just because I posted, like, some activities with brands, and you think that I've been partying, not training? The question, like, what is that?"
When the reporter responded: "I'm saying that there are a lot of events and things like that. I'm not saying you go to the parties," Sabalenka told him: "You literally said that. Next question."
The reporter then said: "For everyone who is unclear, I'm not suggesting that Aryna is having fun at these parties."
"Thanks, yeah," she responded.
"I'm saying that she makes a lot of appearances and there's a lot to do and lots of events, OK?" said the reporter.
"OK. Move on," replied Sabalenka.
Finally, he then turned to a new line of questioning, asking her: "So, now that the tournament has started, do you find you're getting quite serious and combative?"
Sabalanka still wasn’t having it, and told him: "Oh, yeah, I wasn't serious before that. Next question. Think before you say stuff."
Britt Jones