Aryna Sabalenka acknowledged the US Open crowd wasn't on her side against home player Amanda Anisimova but noted that they acted much more respectfully this time, and that she was pleased about it.
In what was her first US Open title match in 2023, Sabalenka clashed against Coco Gauff. Needless to say, the crowd was heavily on the side of the top-ranked American female tennis player. The Belarusian, who lost the final in three sets, later didn't hide her frustration with the crowd and made it clear that she felt they were "disrespectfully" acting toward her.
Last year, Sabalenka got her revenge by beating Jessica Pegula in the US Open final. The crowd acted more respectfully. This year, in her third consecutive final in New York, the world No. 1 met fourth-ranked American Anisimova and completed a 6-3 7-6 (3) win.
Sabalenka says her relationship with the US Open crowd definitely improved
"I'm really grateful for it. And I've felt that way over the years. I remember the first time I came here, when I made it to the final for the first time. The crowd definitely wasn't on my side. I feel like I've really built a good connection with the people. They see me more through social media and they know me better. Every year I come, I get more and more support, so I'm really excited for the next few years and I hope it's even more than today," the Belarusian said.
When Sabalenka came to this year's US Open, she did so with a clear goal – she didn't want to finish the 2025 season without winning a single Grand Slam title. Earlier this year, she lost the finals in the opening two Grand Slams, while also seeing her Wimbledon campaign end in the semifinal.
27-year-old Sabalenka now has a total of four Grand Slams in her collection.
