Sabalenka calls journalist a 'joke' over US Open partying

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka dismissed a reporter's question about her off-court activities as a 'joke' following her second-round victory at the US Open. The two-time defending champion defeated Polina Iatcenko 6-1, 6-1 at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday.

Sabalenka's irritation surfaced when a journalist suggested her preparations for the Grand Slam involved 'parties and fun'. The Belarusian forcefully rejected the implication.

Tense Press Conference Exchange

"You guys are, like, a joke. Parties, fun... Like, why would you even say that? Why would you even think about that?" Sabalenka said. She linked the line of questioning to social media posts she had made with sponsors. "Just because I posted, like, some activities with brands, and you think that I've been partying, not training?"

The 28-year-old then cut the exchange short.

Focus on Current Form

Turning to her performance, the four-time Grand Slam winner expressed satisfaction. Sabalenka said she was pleased with both her level and her focus after the dominant win. She outlined a shift in her competitive mindset.

"I've been working really hard, but I feel like I'm kind of moving away from trying to be perfect on court," Sabalenka stated. "I know that you cannot be perfect, and I'm just trying to work with what I have right now."

Her victory keeps her bid for a third consecutive US Open title alive. Sabalenka is attempting to avoid ending the year without a major title, having not won one since the Miami Open in March.

Mental and Physical Strength

Sabalenka acknowledged a dip in form during the middle of the season. She declined to elaborate on the reasons but was positive about her current state.

"I think I struggled a little bit in the middle of the season." she said. The player described feeling stronger now. "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 concluded by saying she feels she is back at her expected level of play. Her immediate goal is to maintain the right focus for each match as the tournament progresses.