Sabalenka bristles at 'parties' question after US Open win

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has not won a tournament since March. After beating Polina Iatcenko 6-1, 6-1 in 55 minutes to reach the US Open third round, she was asked if a week of sponsor appearances had cost her.

On Wednesday, a reporter's question used the word "parties." The query began, "I'm sort of curious, how are you finding your mood now that the tournament has started?" Sabalenka cut him off.

"You guys are, like, a joke," Sabalenka said, according to the report from Tennis Majors. "Parties, fun, like, why would you even say that? Why would you even think about that? What kind of question is that?"

When the questioner said he was not suggesting partying, only noting many events, she replied, "You literally said that. Next question." She later told the room to move on.

Earlier similar query

A similar question came after her first-round win over Camila Osorio. That version focused on energy, asking how she balanced the "physically draining" events leading up to the Open. Sabalenka's initial response was to ask, "Why do you think that the week before wasn't focused on tennis?"

She then answered at length, which explains her irritation with the second, more pointed question. "It's like my hobby outside of tennis, the whole schedule we plan is all around tennis, so all of those events is not drawing me in any way," Sabalenka said. She explained she chooses brands carefully to ensure she is comfortable and gains energy from the interactions.

She also noted she spent part of last week practicing on the US Open courts in the mixed doubles event with Novak Djokovic.

Assessing her current form

Sabalenka addressed her recent results more broadly. "I think I struggled a little bit in the middle of the season," she said. "Once again, I'm not going to defend myself or explain why, what happened, but I'm happy with my level."

She claimed mental and physical improvements. "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." Sabalenka also described a shift in her on-court mindset, moving away from trying to be perfect and focusing on working with what she has.

The record behind the question

Her season's results provide context for the line of questioning. Sabalenka won three titles early in the year but has not lifted a trophy since late March. Her Grand Slam results since her Australian Open runner-up finish include a Roland-Garros semi-final and a Wimbledon fourth-round exit.

The two-time defending US Open champion holds a 34-6 record at the event. She has now entered a Grand Slam as the World No. 1 for the eighth time in her career. Through two rounds in New York, she has dropped only four games.