Aryna Sabalenka has started off her US Open title defence on the right foot.
The world number one, who defeated Jessica Pegula to win the 2024 US Open Women’s Singles title, defeated Rebeka Masarova in the first round of this year’s tournament.
The Belarusian has won three Grand Slam singles titles in her career: the 2023 and 2024 Australian Opens, and the 2024 US Open.
She will be hoping to add another to her collection on September 6, when the Women’s Singles final will be played in New York.
Now a regular fixture in the latter stages of Grand Slams, Sabalenka knows all about the differing atmospheres across the tour, from the most raucous to the most docile.
During a recent interview, Sabalenka compared the fans at the two Grand Slam tournaments she has won: the Australian Open and US Open.
Aryna Sabalenka says fans at the Australian Open and US Open are ‘similar’
With this year’s US Open being Aryna Sabalenka’s 29th Grand Slam as a main draw player, she has a wealth of experience to draw upon when it comes to fan culture at major tournaments.
Sabalenka, who is hoping to win her first Grand Slam of the year in the next fortnight, compared the fans at Grand Slams in a recent interview with ‘Boardroom.’
Sabalenka said: “In Australia they are all so crazy about tennis. So I don’t know how to say it, I don’t want to offend anyone, I love the support in Australia.
“But in Australia they go really crazy. If you have got fans in Australia they are going to be cheering for you like crazy, going nuts sometimes. I love it, it’s just the best feeling.
“The French are picky with who they support. If they support you, they sing. I will say it like that.
“Wimbledon is just so classy. So polite, and everyone is quiet and very respectful there.
“The US Open is similar to Australia. They just probably drink a little bit more than the Australians!”
Aryna Sabalenka could face Leylah Fernandez in the US Open third round
Aryna Sabalenka could face a former US Open finalist in the third round: Leylah Fernandez.
Fernandez, who lost to Emma Raducanu in the 2021 US Open Women’s Singles final, has been in good form on the hard courts, having recently won the Washington Open.
Sabalenka faces Polina Kudermetova in the second round, while Fernandez is set to play France’s Elsa Jacquemot.
Fernandez won her only previous WTA Tour match against Sabalenka: in the 2021 US Open semi-finals. Fernandez won the contest 7-6 4-6 6-4.
