Aryna Sabalenka successfully defended her US Open title and then was forced to cut off the emcee during an awkward trophy presentation as she attempted to thank her team for their support. The world No.1 defeated Amanda Ansimova 6-3 7-6(3) to lift her first Major of the year and her fourth overall.
Sabalenka addressed the crowd during her victory speech, but Mary Carillo, who was conducting interviews with the champion and runner-up, attempted to move on before the top seed had finished her speech. Sabalenka stopped Carillo in her tracks and said: “Wait. I’m not done!”
The Belarusian is known for jokingly giving her team a hard time in her speeches. But she had not yet acknowledged them when Carillo asked for Sabalenka to be presented with the trophy for the second year running.
The No.1 seed paid tribute to Anisimova, who lost a second consecutive Grand Slam final, and thanked the New York crowd when the interviewer tried to move things along. Carillo started to introduce the JP Morgan representative who would be handing Sabalenka her £3.7m ($5m) winners’ cheque.
But Sabalenka quickly reacted and halted proceedings to continue her speech. “Wait, wait, wait, I need to say thank you to my team. I’m not done. What do you mean?” she asked.
“Sorry. I thought it would be rude because I’m giving hard times to my team and to leave them without appreciation in my speech, it would be mean.”
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