Aryna Sabalenka takes a savage dig at US Open crowd after booking last ticket

Aryna Sabalenka hilariously clapped back at the US Open after her win over American Emma Navarro, cheekily wondering where all the support went during the match.

On Thursday evening, the 26-year-old secured her second consecutive place in the final at Flushing Meadows after beating the 13th-seeded favourite 6-3 7-6 (3).

It was no surprise that the crowd leaned heavily on the American tennis player’s side during the match. But the number 2 handled it well and eventually finished the job in straight sets.

After the match, the crowd applauded Sabalenka and showed their appreciation for the two-time Grand Slam champion. While the Belarusian appreciated their gesture, she did let them know one thing.

“Well guys, now you’re cheering for me. I mean, it’s a little bit too late. No, no, it really means a lot, and even if you were supporting her at first, of course I got goosebumps from your encouragement and there was really an incredible atmosphere. I really enjoyed playing and she’s such a great player, a really tough opponent, and I’m really happy to have survived this difficult semi-final,” the 2023 US Open runner-up told the crowd.

Sabalenka explains the biggest challenge of playing in front of the US Open crowd

Twelve months ago, the 26-year-old reached what was then her second Major final at Flushing Meadows. She initially dominated Coco Gauff, but then the American came back to win 2-6 6-3 6-2.

Throughout the final, the 20-year-old could count on the support of the crowd and this clearly affected the Belarusian, who could not hold back her tears when she addressed them about their behaviour.

“I don’t know. You could have supported during the match,” Sabalenka told the crowd at the trophy presentation last year.

The No. 2 player is also seeing positive changes this year, however. After her win against Navarro, the two-time Major winner acknowledged that she is aware that the locals still cheer heavily for the home players, but stressed that she has also noticed more respectful behavior.

“I would say that, I mean, today was actually not that crazy. They were loud, but during the point they were respectful and relaxed, you know. Last year they were just super loud, even during the point. It was so loud, so it blocked my ears, so it was, so much pressure,” Sabalenka said when asked to describe the biggest challenge of playing in front of the New York crowd.

“I think the mistake was that I focused on myself, but I didn’t think that she’s actually on the same field, feeling the same loudness of the crowd, and that we’re all in the same circumstances. Yes, they’re cheering for her, but how can they help her win the game? Only if I let them get into my head and only if I just lose myself, you know, go crazy. So yeah, that’s the hardest part, the loudness of how loud it can be in this stadium.”

Sabalenka not worried about next match against another American

For her first US Open victory and her third Grand Slam title, the Belarusian tennis player will face Jessica Pegula.

With the second seed and Navarro making up the first semi-final and no immediate idea of ​​who she would face next, the 26-year-old was asked if she was worried about the prospect of playing the sixth-seeded American in the final.

Then Sabalenka began to explain how she had learned her lesson from taking on Gauff last year and why she is confident the same thing won’t happen again this time around.

“No, I don’t really care because today was a good test from the crowd cheering on my opponent. Even if it’s Pegula, I mean, I don’t care, I’m ready to face whoever. I learned the lesson from last year and I really hope I’m going to do a little bit better than last year. I thought, ‘Okay Aryna, you have to stay focused, stay in your mind, focus on yourself.’ I thought a lot and I thought, ‘No guys, not this time,'” the Belarusian said.

For Sabalenka and the 30-year-old American, it will be their eighth meeting. Heading into the US Open final, the 2023 US Open finalist holds a 5-2 head-to-head record against the current world No. 6.

It should be noted, however, that the Belarusian won all three of their meetings on clay, while they split their four meetings on hard courts. But it should also be noted that the 26-year-old recently defeated the second-highest-ranked American female tennis player 6-3 7-5 in the final of Cincinnati.

It’s safe to say that Sabalenka is the favourite, but we certainly can’t take the form-retaining Pegula for granted.