"They were awake watching me, 100% they're not going to sleep well": Sabalenka apologised to parents in post US Open final speech
WTAMonday, 11 September 2023 at 22:00
Aryna Sabalenka was left teary eyed and emotional after crumbling against Coco Gauff in the final of the 2023 US Open. She won the first set before it all fell apart.
As a result, she smashed her racket off the court, but also had an emotional post match speech afterwards. She apologised to her mother and rest of her family which was asked about in the press conference.
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She said that her family would've likely stayed up late to watch her due to the time difference and as a result, she felt she let them down. But she also went on to speak about how they have helped her career and without them, she wouldn't be playing.
"I mean, I don't know what time is it there right now," she said. "It's probably night. For me, it's important to get good sleep for them, you know. So they were awake, watching me. I mean, now they have to go to bed, but 100% they're not going to sleep well. So that's what I apologize for."
"Well, without them, I wouldn't be here," she went on. "They have been pushing themselves so hard so I would have this chance to become a tennis player. Yeah, I would say that my family did a good job. If not for them, I wouldn't be here. I really appreciate for everything they did, yeah."
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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