World number one Aryna Sabalenka delivered a commanding performance on Tuesday, sweeping past 18-year-old American Iva Jovic to secure her spot in the Australian Open semifinals. The match unfolded under intense heat at Melbourne Park, but it was the post-game interview that truly set pulses racing long after the final point was won.
Sabalenka's Relaxed Demeanor Meets Dokic's Curveballs
Fresh from her straight-sets victory, Sabalenka appeared in a buoyant mood as she chatted with former Australian tennis star Jelena Dokic on court. However, Dokic swiftly steered the conversation away from tennis tactics, leading to a series of delightfully awkward and humorous exchanges.
An Unlikely Connection with Carlos Alcaraz
Dokic began by highlighting a curious set of similarities between Sabalenka and men's world number one Carlos Alcaraz. "You're world number one, and so is Carlos Alcaraz. You are reigning US Open champions. You also haven't lost a set on the way to the quarterfinals," Dokic noted, before revealing their shared birthday on the fifth of May.
"So, I have a question, and I think we should make this a tradition. I think you should exchange gifts," Dokic proposed, putting the Belarusian star on the spot. "And if you did, what would you gift Carlos, and what would you like to get from him, because I know you love your diamonds?"
A Cheeky Gesture and a TikTok Proposal
The question prompted a laughing and visibly blushing Sabalenka to glance towards her boyfriend, Brazilian businessman Georgios Frangulis, who was watching from the stands. In a playful moment, she gestured to him and asked, "Can you leave?" before composing her answer.
"No, no, what would I give him? I would offer him a TikTok dance probably, and I would like to receive 'yes' as an answer," Sabalenka replied. When Dokic queried, "Yes to what?" Sabalenka clarified, "To TikTok. To do a dance?" She then added with a smile, "Yeah, last year I forced him to do it, so I feel like I can do it again."
This reference harks back to a viral video from last year where Sabalenka and Alcaraz performed a TikTok dance with their US Open trophies, captioned: "May 5th must be a really lucky birthday to have."
The Dazzling Diamond Watch Handover
Dokic, however, was far from finished. She then turned her attention to Sabalenka's glittering jewellery. "Last one, you're dazzling us with your tennis. There's something else that's dazzling. I mean, I, I'm going blind here, your diamonds, everywhere," Dokic remarked.
In a stunning act of generosity, Dokic jokingly suggested, "So I want to help you as you go further in this tournament, it's hot, you need to recover well, it looks heavy. I think you should give it to me so that I look after it." To the audience's astonishment, Sabalenka immediately agreed, replying, "For you anything, my dear," and proceeded to take off her diamond-encrusted watch and hand it to the former player.
A Moment of Trust and High Value
A clearly shocked Dokic asked, "Really? Do I want to know how much this costs?" Sabalenka laughed and simply said, "A lot," before helping Dokic put the luxurious timepiece on her wrist.
Displaying a mix of awe and concern, Dokic then inquired, "Can I just ask, I don't want to know how much it costs, but do we have insurance?" Sabalenka reassured her, "I'm pretty sure we do." When a stunned Dokic questioned, "You trust me this much?" Sabalenka affirmed with a smile, "Yeah, I know you, you're gonna give it back to me."
This extraordinary interaction provided a captivating glimpse into Sabalenka's charismatic and good-humoured personality off the court, even as she remains fiercely focused on clinching another Grand Slam title in Melbourne.
