New York always writes its own script—and sometimes it has a short memory. On her first appearance at the 2025 US Open, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka stepped onto Arthur Ashe Stadium amid a chorus of boos—waves of disapproval stirred by her controversial post-match comments following the French Open final. But instead of crumbling, she let her tennis speak.
Sabalenka—after slipping in the French Open final to Coco Gauff—stirred backlash when she bluntly blamed her loss more on her own unforced errors than Gauff’s excellence. Her remarks, calling it “the worst final I ever played,” came across as dismissive and unprofessional The Times of IndiaPeople.com. Though she eventually extended a heartfelt apology to Gauff—admitting she let emotions take over and calling her comments unprofessional The SunPeople.com—New York fans showed they weren’t quick to forgive.
On Monday, being booed onto court could have rattled a lot of players. Sabalenka stumbled early, dropping serve to Rebeka Masarova, her performance visibly edgy pragativadi.com. But this is where champions distinguish themselves. She regrouped, dug deep, and turned the match around: a tight first set after a comeback to win 7-5, then a dominant 6-1 second set to secure her place in round two pragativadi.com.
Masarova’s roar from the crowd couldn’t dampen Aryna’s resolve. Instead, she leaned into it—later sharing a graceful post on social media:
“NYC, thank you for the warm welcome. I’m so happy to be back on this court, you gave me goosebumps.” SPORTbible
It was a powerful moment of reclaiming composure. She didn’t dodge the reaction—she addressed it with grace, this time letting gratitude shine where tension had once settled.
Off-court, Sabalenka has taken meaningful steps toward reconciliation. She privately apologized to Gauff and even lightened the mood with a TikTok peace dance, signaling there’s no lingering animosity between them The Guardian.
In New York’s charged atmosphere, she showed up, handled the disapproval, and delivered a performance. It’s a reminder that even in the glare of the most hostile crowds, true champions don’t flinch—they rise. Sabalenka may have stumbled into a gauntlet, but clean and composed, she walked—or rather, fought—her way through it.
Her message was clear: no matter the boos, she’s not backing down.
