After overcoming Naomi Osaka in the fourth round at Roland Garros, Aryna Sabalenka found herself in a peculiar situation during her post-match interview.
This was notable for the women’s tournament, as it marked the first prime-time night session featuring women’s matches in Paris in three years.
Former player and French Open broadcaster Fabrice Santoro requested Sabalenka to dance with the crowd, suggesting some music to enhance the moment after she secured a 7-5, 6-3 victory.
Initially, Sabalenka appeared uncertain, but ultimately went along with the request. However, the moment drew mixed reactions, including some disapproval from the tennis community, notably former Grand Slam champion Andy Roddick. He expressed his thoughts on this incident during his podcast, Served.
“I like him (Santoro), but I have to say, ‘Would you really ask someone to dance for us?’ That’s a pretty odd request. I wasn’t a fan,” Roddick remarked. “And then when she dances a bit and it seems like it’s done, asking for a moonwalk afterward—I don’t know. Maybe people enjoyed it, but I’m probably in the minority.”
He continued, “Honestly, I get the need for personality in post-match interviews… but it feels like you can’t win. I understand why she did it, but it just struck me as strange. It seems like an odd thing to ask in a professional environment.”
This incident stirs up a dialogue about how commentators approach post-match discussions, often focusing on creating light-hearted moments instead of just analyzing match results.
Some remembered similarly awkward requests, recalling when Eugenie Bouchard was asked to twirl and showcase her attire to the Melbourne audience after her win at the 2015 Australian Open.
During the French Open, Sabalenka also had a light-hearted exchange with fellow player Novak Djokovic during their post-match celebrations. Djokovic, however, faced a premature exit in the third round after losing to Joao Fonseca, cutting his run short.
Currently ranked No. 1 in the world and a favorite to clinch the title, Sabalenka is set to meet Diana Schneider in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
