Top Tennis Star Lashes Out at Reporter Over Question About Her Off-the-Court Activities: ‘Think Before You Say Stuff!’

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Belarusian tennis star Aryna Sabalenka scolded a reporter Wednesday over a question about her recent off-the-court activities.

During a press conference at the U.S. Open, a reporter asked Sabalenka — the top-ranked women’s player in the world — about her mood since the tournament started. The reporter specifically asked how her mood was in comparison to last week, when she was at “lots of parties and fun and stuff like that.”

Sabalenka immediately made it clear she took exception to that framing, and their back-and-forth went as follows:

SABALENKA: You guys are, like, a joke. “Parties,” “fun,” like, why would you even say that? Why would you even think about that? Like, what kind of question is that? Just because I posted like some activities with brands, you think that I’ve been partying, not training?

REPORTER: I’m not suggesting that you’re partying. I’m saying that there’s–

SABALENKA: No, like… the question. Like, what is that?

REPORTER: I’m saying that there are a lot of events and things like that. I’m not saying you go to the parties and that you’re–

SABALENKA: You literally said that.

REPORTER: Excuse me?

SABALENKA: Ugh, next question.

REPORTER: For everyone who’s unclear, I’m not suggesting that Aryna is having fun at these parties–

SABALENKA: Thanks.

REPORTER: –I’m saying that she makes a lot of appearances and there’s a lot to do and lots of events, OK?

SABALENKA: OK, move on.

REPORTER: So, now that the tournament started, do you find you’re getting quite serious and combative?

SABALENKA: Oh yeah, I wasn’t serious before that. Next question. Think before you say stuff!

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