Aryna Sabalenka meets “mini-me,” talks inspiring young generation at 2024 US Open victory

NEW YORK—Aryna Sabalenka enjoyed an extra-special celebration after advancing into the third round of the 2024 US Open, sharing the victory with a young fan who dressed up like the former world No. 1 on Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Sabalenka was in the midst of delivering a 6-3, 6-1 performance over Lucia Bronzetti when the youngster, who even sported a matching tiger “tattoo,” appeared on the stadium’s jumbotron.

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Stop what you're doing, we have the moment of the tournament from @SabalenkaA 😍🤗 pic.twitter.com/kH16B0EZyc
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 28, 2024

“It was really adorable moment,” Sabalenka said in her post-match press conference. “I just looked up, and I saw on the big screen, like, mini me! It was so cute.

“That’s the first time I see someone dress up the same as me and having little tattoo and little tiger. How cute is that?” she added with a laugh.

Sabalenka's mini-me stole the show on Louis Armstrong Stadium as she got to watch her favorite player storm into the third round of the 2024 US Open.

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After clinching the win on Wednesday, Sabalenka met the fan for selfies, and spoke in press about what connecting with young fans means to her.

“It's such a motivation to keep going to inspire the young generation,” she said. “That's the main goal. Yeah, that was very adorable moment.”

Sabalenka may hope to find a growing army of mini-Sabys in her next match, where she’ll face No. 29 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova on Friday.