"Without me, you guys wouldn't exist" - Aryna Sabalenka hilariously teases her team after winning US Open 2024, showers them with 'I love you' message
Aryna Sabalenka playfully teased her team after winning her first US Open title by defeating home favorite Jessica Pegula on September 7. This victory marked the Belarusian’s second Grand Slam of 2024 and her third Major overall.
Sabalenka entered the US Open with impressive form, having won the Cincinnati Open after recovering from a shoulder injury that had forced her to withdraw from the Wimbledon Championships.
She kicked off her campaign at Flushing Meadows with a dominant straight-sets win over Priscilla Hon, followed by victories against Lucia Bronzetti, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Elise Mertens, Qinwen Zheng, and Emma Navarro to reach the final against Pegula.
Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula both delivered strong performances, but the former ultimately triumphed with a 7-5, 7-5 victory. The win was particularly sweet for the former World No. 1, as she became the first woman since Serena Williams in 2012 to win the tournament after losing in the final the previous year.
During her victory speech, Sabalenka teased her team, which includes coach Anton Dubrov, fitness coach Jason Stacy, and boyfriend Georgios Frangulis, among others. She joked that they wouldn’t exist without her, and vice versa, before showering them with appreciation and love.
"Let's be honest, without them it wouldn't be me, I wouldn't exist and as I always say, without me, you guys wouldn't exist. So you're welcome," she said.
"No, no, I love you guys. Your support is everything. You are my family and I cannot imagine my tennis life and my personal life without you guys. I really love you. I say it, like not often, but I say it sometimes and I say it loud. Guys, I love you so much. Thank you for being you," she added.
Aryna Sabalenka after winning US Open 2024: "I am super proud of myself"
During her victory speech, Aryna Sabalenka took a moment to reflect on her perseverance, sharing how she never gave up despite last year’s heartbreaking loss to Coco Gauff in the US Open final.
"You know everything I'm thinking, I remember all those stuff, losses in the past here and, and you know, just, it's gonna sound easy but never give up on your dream and just keep, keep trying, keep working hard," the Belarusian said.
The 26-year-old added:
"If you're really working hard and you're sacrificing everything for your dream, you're gonna get it one day. So I'm just, I'm just super proud of myself. I never say that. But really guys, I'm super proud of myself."
Sabalenka's victory in New York makes her the first player to win both hardcourt Slams in the same year since Angelique Kerber in 2016. She has also closed in on her arch-rival Iga Swiatek, who has claimed five Majors.