ARYNA SABALENKA TOLD TEAM 'YOU'RE FIRED' AHEAD OF U.S. OPEN FINAL SHOWDOWN

Aryna Sabalenka has stormed into the U.S. Open final once again, setting her sights on redemption after last year's defeat. She'll face American Jessica Pegula, hoping to claim victory this time around.

Last year, Sabalenka made headlines not just for her powerful play but also for her dramatic declaration to her team in New York, telling them they were all "fired" amidst the high-stakes competition.

Echoing last year's path, she ousted another American favorite, Madison Keys, to secure her spot in the final against Coco Gauff. During that match, Sabalenka was visibly frustrated, directing fiery gestures and words toward her team from the court.

Confronted about her intense on-court behavior, Sabalenka joked: "They (are) fired, they're not my team anymore. It's all their fault.

She clarified: "No, no. I mean, we spoke a lot after those tough semi-finals 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 reason. I don't know guys, it's too late. I am really struggling speaking, especially English."

Sabalenka retains the backing of her coach Anton Dubrov even after a lighthearted "fired" comment at Flushing Meadows, as she gears up for a tough final against a stellar-performing Pegula at Arthur Ashe. "I mean, we had a lot of great battles in the past, really difficult, tight matches," Sabalenka mentioned her opposition.

"She playing really incredible tennis. We played recently in Cincinnati. Was really tough match, even though I closed the match in two sets, but still it wasn't that easy."

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"She's playing her best tennis, I would say, and feels like she's back on track. I mean, she won the tournament, then she made the final, then she's here, a step away from another final. So she's in incredible shape. It's going to be another great battle against her. Yeah, cannot way to play against her."

With 26 wins out of her last 27 Grand Slam hardcourt matches, Sabalenka enters the U.S. Open final with confidence and a re-assembled team eager to help her win her first title at the event.

2024-09-07T20:49:40Z dg43tfdfdgfd