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.

Advertising

“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.

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.

Advertising

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.