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New Delhi: US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka made one of the most hilarious entrances in the post-match press conference after defeating Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-6(3) in the final of the tournament at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday, September 6.
After her 1-hour, 34-minute final with the American, Sabalenka was in the mood to celebrate her triumph and made a hilarious entry with a champagne bottle in one hand and water in another. As she sat in her seat, the Belarusian said, "Hello everybody, it is going to be a fun media,".
Sabalenka was determined to become the first woman since American legend Serena Williams (2012–14) to defend her title at Flushing Meadows. She carried the weight of recent major setbacks to claim a straight-sets victory against Amanda Anisimova in the final and retained her crown.
Speaking about the motivation behind her victory, Sabalenka said that she received a video from the tennis school where she started as a kid. After her defeats in the final of this year's Australian Open and French Open, and a Wimbledon semifinal loss against Aminisova, the Belarusian turned all the disappointment into fuel.
"This morning I received a video from the tennis school where I started from the kids. They were cheering me on. I was crying a little bit this morning. That was the moment where I realised I can’t let them down. I have to give them some positive vibes," Sabalenka said in the on-court interview.
Speaking later in the press conference, she also talked about her father and said that when he passed away, she was very depressed, and it was a tough moment for her and the family.
"But in that moment I decided to take it as motivation, to put our family name in the history and I want to believe that he is protecting me from up there. He became my power, it means a lot,".
She further added that it means a lot to defend this title and to bring such great tennis on the court. "To bring the fight and be able to handle my emotions the way I did in this final it means a lot. I’m super proud right now of myself," she concluded.
