(Video) Aryna Sabalenka’s Hilarious Reaction After Grabbing $5 Million US Open Check Goes Viral

Aryna Sabalenka finally added her fourth Singles Grand Slam title to her trophy cabinet after beating another home favorite at the US Open.

(Video) Aryna Sabalenka’s Hilarious Reaction After Grabbing $5 Million US Open Check Goes Viral

Aryna Sabalenka wins $5 million after US Open win (Image via X/US Open)

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Aryna Sabalenka is on top of the world after her US Open title defense. Early this year, she fell in three sets to Madison Keys in the Australian Open final and to Coco Gauff in the French Open final.

But in New York, she took her revenge on Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-6(3), becoming the first woman since Serena Williams (2014) to defend the US Open. And as a reward, she was presented with the check of $5 million– the biggest prize money in the history of official tennis tournaments.

Sabalenka was not ready to let go of the check. In a now viral video, the World No.1 refused to give the envelope when asked to during the trophy presentation as she hilariously fanned herself before breaking into laughter.

Watch the video here:

It was Anisimova who knocked Sabalenka out of the Wimbledon semifinals this year. Sabalenka still trails in the head-to-head records 4-6 and has tied 3-3 in Grand Slam events.

Sabalenka’s victory meant two straight Grand Slam final defeats for Anisimova, who was double-bageled by Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon. The Belarusian, also only the third player in the Open Era to win her first four Majors on hard courts after Naomi Osaka and Kim Clijsters, is the first player in the Open Era outside of America to take home multiple US Open titles after defeating home favorites in the semifinals and finals.

It was Sabalenka’s third US Open final (she lost to Coco Gauff in 2023). Sabalenka is now a four-time champion this season after her wins in Brisbane, Miami, and Madrid. The victory over Anisimova was Sabalenka’s 100th Grand Slam singles match win.

Amanda Anisimova blames nerves after defeat to Aryna Sabalenka

The defeat to Aryna Sabalenka was a far better result compared to Amanda Anisimova’s 6-0, 6-0 loss to Iga Swiatek in her first-ever Grand Slam final at Wimbledon. Anisimova is yet to conquer nerves, also one of the reasons behind her straight-set defeat to the now four-time Grand Slam singles champion.

Amanda Anisimova (3)
Amanda Anisimova (Image via X/Wimbledon)

I just felt like throughout the match I wasn’t playing my best tennis. I feel like with finals, I have a lot of nerves, and it’s something I’m trying to work on, but I just wish I played more aggressively. I didn’t win today, so of course I didn’t do enough. That’s just the reality, and I have to accept that.

Amanda Anisimova said at the press conference

Anisimova will start the new week as the newest World No.4 as her US Open run helped her climb five places up to replace Jessica Pegula. Sabalenka would have lost her No. 1 rankings had Swiatek or Coco Gauff emerged victorious, but now, she will continue to sit comfortably at the top of the rankings.

Aryna Sabalenka credits mindset shift after winning the US Open

Sabalenka did not want to repeat the mistakes she made during her French Open final defeat to Gauff. At the press conference after her US Open win, the 27-year-old revealed that her mindset going into the final was to not let emotions get the better of her.

Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka (via US Open)

Upon reaching this final, I decided to control my emotions. I wasn’t going to let them dominate me, no matter what happened in the match. Whether I got broken on serve or played incredible tennis. My mindset was simply to step onto the court and fight for every point, regardless of the situation.

Sabalenka will next be playing the China Open, where last year, her run ended in the quarterfinals. But later at the Wuhan Open, she was successful in defeating home favorite Qinwen Zheng.

Also read: Jannik Sinner Recalls Titanic 2022 US Open Quarterfinal With Carlos Alcaraz Ahead of Their Blockbuster Final