Aryna Sabalenka joked around with her team after beating Madison Keys in the 2023 US Open semi-final.
Aryna Sabalenka hasn't always had the best of luck when it comes to Grand Slam semi-finals recently, but she was able to see the humorous side of breaking her final four hoodoo at the US Open.
Since Wimbledon 2021, Sabalenka has reached six semi-finals at major events but only progressed once when she won the Australian Open earlier this season. After crashing out at the Roland Garros and Wimbledon semi-finals in 2023, Sabalenka broke her run of final-four disappointment at the US Open when she came back from a set down to eliminate US player Madison Keys.
The issue of Sabalenka's poor run of semi-final losses was addressed in her post-match interview on court. But rather than produce a tactical answer, the Belarusian chose humour instead and jokingly blamed her team for the lack of success in Grand Slams.
"They fired, they're not my team anymore. It's all their fault."
Throughout the match against Keys, Sabalenka and her team were not exactly calm as the 25-year-old was seen venting her frustration. But all was forgiven after Sabalenka was able to recover the match from a perilous position and set up a US Open final against 19-year-old Coco Gauff.
After her joking comment about her team, the Belarusian was full of praise for the coaches and personnel who have supported her through the tough times over the past three seasons.
"No, no. I mean, we spoke a lot after those tough semifinals and we spoke that if I need to throw those emotions, I have to do it. Otherwise, I'll just, I don't know eat myself from the inside. So that's why I was just like yelling, screaming, swearing to them."
"I mean I think they know that I still love them. It's just for better, you know, it's for a good for a good reason. I don't know guys, it's too late. I am really struggling speaking, especially English."
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