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Sabalenka fumes over reporter's 'parties' claim after US Open win

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire From a news agency Context piece
  • Aryna Sabalenka rejected a reporter’s suggestion that parties and promotional appearances had distracted her from preparing for the US Open.
  • The world number one beat Polina Iatcenko 6-1, 6-1 and advanced to a third-round match against Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova.
  • Sabalenka said she felt mentally and physically stronger after struggling during the middle of the season.

Aryna Sabalenka did not take kindly to a question about parties. After beating Polina Iatcenko 6-1, 6-1 at the US Open, the defending champion pushed back sharply against a reporter’s suggestion that events and appearances around the tournament had distracted her from training.

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?

· Aryna SabalenkaShe responded to a reporter’s suggestion that parties had distracted her from US Open preparations.

“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?” the world number one said. She added that posting activities with brands did not mean she had been partying instead of preparing.

“Just because I posted, like, some activities with brands, and you think that I've been partying, not training?” Sabalenka said before ending the exchange. She had faced a similar line of questioning after her first-round win.

Just because I posted, like, some activities with brands, and you think that I've been partying, not training?

· Aryna SabalenkaShe defended her promotional appearances and off-court schedule.

The four-time Grand Slam champion then focused on her performance, saying she was pleased with her level and concentration after another dominant display at Arthur Ashe Stadium. “I've been working really hard, but I feel like I'm kind of moving away from trying to be perfect on court,” she said. “I know that you cannot be perfect, and I'm just trying to work with what I have right now.”

I've been working really hard, but I feel like I'm kind of moving away from trying to be perfect on court.

· Aryna SabalenkaShe described her approach after defeating Polina Iatcenko.

Sabalenka will next play Kamilla Rakhimova of Uzbekistan as she seeks a third consecutive US Open title. She is also trying to avoid ending the year without a major championship after failing to win a title since the Miami Open in March. “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,” she said.

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.

· Aryna SabalenkaShe assessed her condition as she pursued another US Open title.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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