‘I’m not done’ – Aryna Sabalenka awkwardly stops US Open victory speech to apologise to boyfriend

Aryna Sabalenka awkwardly had to extend her US Open victory speech so she could thank her team and boyfriend.

Sabalenka won her second straight US Open title when she dispatched American Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-6 (3) in the final.

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The 27-year-old became the first woman since Serena Williams to successfully defend the title and increased her Grand Slam tally to four – with her two others coming at the Australian Open.

She collapsed to the ground, tears flowing, when Anisimova’s final backhand landed out.

It was revenge for her defeat to the American at Wimbledon in the semi-final.

Anisimova herself was coming off a gruelling 6-0, 6-0 defeat in the final at the All England Club to Iga Swiatek.

“It is crazy,” said Sabalenka as she stepped onto the podium. “All the lessons were worth it for this one. I’m speechless.”

Why did Aryna Sabalenka cut off the interviewer?

Former tennis player, and now broadcaster Mary Carillo was conducting the interviews on the victory podium and thought Sabalenka had finished her speech.

Carillo started to introduce the JP Morgan representative, who would go on to hand her a cheque worth £3.7m ($5m).

But Sabalenka was forced to awkwardly interrupt.

“Wait, wait, wait, I need to say thank you to my team. I’m not done. What do you mean?” she said.

“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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She continued: “Last but not least, I want to say thank you to my team, to my family, to everyone who came here, who flew from Miami, from LA, to be there in my box, to support me, to cheer me on.

“Hopefully I’m going to reach many more finals, you guys are not allowed to skip any of those, so I don’t care where you guys are going to be, but you’re going to be flying to my finals!”

Sabalenka admitted she had given her coaching staff a tough time over the last year.

There had been heartbreaking defeats in the Australian Open and French Open finals, before a loss at the final four at Wimbledon.

She added: “Of course, thank you to my team. I mean, it’s been tough this year and, you know, in those finals I was really terrible towards you. But come on, it’s worth it, right?

“So, guys, thank you so much. I love you, you’re my family. And thank you to my boyfriend who is always there for me, cheering me on. Without your support, I wouldn’t be able to make it.

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“And last thing, I know people at home are watching. I’m sorry, I’m really long today, I know it can get annoying! But last but not least, also, I know that kids back home are watching me. This morning, I received a video from the tennis school where I started, from the kids.

“They were cheering me on, they were really wishing me all the best wishes. I was a little bit crying this morning and that was the moment when I realised I cannot let them down, I have to give them some positive vibes, so thank you so much for the support.”

Sabalenka ‘fired’ her coaching team

It is not unusual for Sabalenka’s coaching team to be on the receiving end of some playing barbs.

After losing in the 2023 final to Coco Gauff, she joked that she would fire her coaching staff.

While addressing her team, she added: “Thank you, guys. They know they will be fired after this tournament. As always, we will come back stronger.

“Thank you for everything you do for me and I really appreciate it and love you guys.”

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How did Aryna Sabalenka celebrate?

It’s safe to say there was plenty of alcohol involved.

Videos on social media show her returning to the locker room and spraying her team with champagne.

However, somebody did have the foresight to cover everything in plastic sheeting to make the clean-up operation a little easier.