"Pushing them hard... if they're not gonna do it, I'm not gonna give passports back"- Aryna Sabalenka discloses hilarious "deal" with team at US Open
Aryna Sabalenka, known for her hilarious TikTok videos with her coaching team, has assured that she will be continuing the tradition at the 2024 US Open. The Belarusian recently disclosed how she is enjoying a hold over her team during her campaign in New York.
Sabalenka progressed to the second round of the US Open with a promising 6-4, 6-4 win against Australian qualifier Priscilla Hon on Monday, August 26. She thus extended her winning streak to six matches, having won the Cincinnati Open title a week ago.
After arriving in New York following her WTA 1000 win, Aryna Sabalenka shared several TikTok videos and Instagram reels, highlighting her preparations and off-court adventures in the Big Apple. She made a video showing her day and night session outfits for the US Open. As has been her tradition of late, she also gave a hilarious glimpse of her and her team's workout sessions.
Following her late-night finish on Monday, on-court interviewer Blair Henley asked Sabalenka about the creative mind behind her entertaining videos.
"My fitness coach; definitely my fitness coach. Jason is the creative one," she joked about her coach Jason Stacy, before correcting, "Guys, obviously - of course me."
The World No. 2 then made an amusing revelation about how she has been forcing her team to contribute by seizing their passports.
"I am pushing them so hard. I have their passports and if they’re not going to do it, I’m not going to give their passports back. So that’s the deal," she added.
Aryna Sabalenka chases her third Grand Slam title at US Open 2024
Aryna Sabalenka is in pursuit of her third Grand Slam title at the US Open, following her Australian Open triumphs in 2023 and 2024. The 26-year-old is one of the top favorites at the event, given her impressive run in Cincinnati and her hardcourt dominance.
The World No. 2 reached her first US Open final last year but was unable to get her hands on the champion’s trophy, losing to home favorite Coco Gauff, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. She would thus hope to cross the finish line this time.
About being motivated by her previous losses, Aryna Sabalenka said:
"It's not like it's in my mind a lot that I have unfinished something here, but those tough losses definitely motivated me a lot to hard work and to improve things which didn't work in the previous years," she said in her pre-tournament press conference.
"Every time I'm coming here, I'm really hoping for the best result. I really hope one day I'll be happy to lift this beautiful trophy," she added.
For a spot in the third round of the 2024 US Open, Aryna Sabalenka faces Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti on Wednesday, August 28.