Aryna Sabalenka promised to make an expensive gesture to tenis fans inside Arthur Ashe Stadium if they supported her in the US Open semi-final.
The Belarusian star stormed past Qinwen Zheng with a dominant 6-1, 6-2 victory in the quarter-final on Tuesday to reach the last four.
She will face the No. 13 seed Emma Navarro, the home favourite who dumped out reigning champion Coco Gauff. And in an attempt to garner some support from the crowd, Sabalenka made the fans a tempting offer.
When she was interviewed by Pam Shriver on court, the 26-year-old was asked what she could do to get more support from the American fans.
Sabalenka cracked a smile and quipped: “Drinks on me tonight?”
A stunned Shriver then asked her to clarify: “Wait, drinks on you tonight? Is that what you said? For everybody?”
Sabalenka, laughing at the crowd’s wild reaction, doubled down on her promise: “Okay guys, drinks on me tonight and please give me some support in my next match.”
While it would be a surefire way to earn some support from the raucous crowd in New York, it could be a costly method for the two-time Grand Slam winner.
The honey deuce cocktail – the most popular drink at the US Open – costs a whopping £17.50 ($23) for spectators. Assuming the 23,771-seat capacity of Arthur Ashe Stadium is entirely filled, it would cost Sabalenka around £416,000 ($546,733) to make good on her vow.
It would represent a significant dent into her prize money at the tournament, where semi-finals are awarded £762,384 ($1m) for their efforts. But if it means her getting through to the final, it will be worth it.
Sabalenka, who has won two titles at the Australian Open, will be desperate to make amends for her defeat in the final in 2023 in New York.
She has only dropped one set on her way to the semi-finals so far and has made light work of her opponents. But against the plucky Navarro, who is into her first Grand Slam semi-final, she could find it tougher going if the crowd get behind the 23-year-old from South Carolina.
Still, they may have Sabalenka’s generous gesture at the back of their minds after getting her round in at the bar as the world No. 2 aims to make her fourth final in a Major.
