Aryna Sabalenka's march through Roland Garros continued on Monday night, but it was what happened after match point that sparked almost as much discussion as the tennis itself. The world No. 1 powered past Naomi Osaka 7-5, 6-3 on Court Philippe-Chatrier to secure a place in the quarterfinals, producing one of her cleanest performances of the tournament. While Sabalenka's dominant display underlined why she remains the favorite in Paris, a lighthearted post-match dance request quickly became a talking point, drawing criticism from former US Open champion Andy Roddick.
Why did Andy Roddick question Aryna Sabalenka's post-match dance moment?
Sabalenka left little doubt about her level against Osaka. She struck 39 winners, controlled rallies with her trademark power, and won 83 percent of points behind her first serve. Osaka showed flashes of the shot-making that once made her a Grand Slam champion, but she struggled to consistently handle the pace coming from the other side of the net.
The Belarusian's focus after the match reflected a player determined not to get carried away by expectations.
“I'm not really overthinking, I was able to separate myself from what's going on this year at Roland Garros. I have been around. Anything can happen. That's tennis. That's sport, you know?” Sabalenka said after the win. “I'm just trying once again to be focused on myself and make sure that when I'm there competing I'm bringing my best level that I have, and I'm there, I'm fighting, and I'm doing everything I can to get this trophy.”
Moments later, however, the conversation shifted away from tennis. During her on-court interview with Fabrice Santoro, Sabalenka was asked to dance to Michael Jackson's “Thriller.” She played along and entertained the crowd, embracing the moment with her usual outgoing personality.
Not everyone appreciated the request. Speaking afterward, Roddick argued that the exchange crossed into uncomfortable territory, especially given the significance of the match and Sabalenka's status as the top-ranked player in the world.
“I like him (Santoro), but saying, 'Will you dance for us?' is just such a weird thing to ask. I don't like it. And then when she does it a little bit and it's kind of over, to then ask her to moonwalk … I don't know. Maybe people loved it, and I might be in the minority,” Roddick said, via the New York Post. “I don't know, man. Personally, I understand the personality side of these post-match interviews … but it's just such a lose-lose situation. Props to her for doing it, but I just thought it was weird. I think that's such a strange thing to ask somebody to do in a professional setting.”
The debate comes as Sabalenka pursues a title that has eluded her. A year after falling short against Coco Gauff in the Roland Garros final, she is now positioned as the leading contender for the trophy. Next up is Diana Shnaider in the quarterfinals, with another potential semifinal hurdle waiting beyond that.
For now, the bigger story remains Sabalenka's tennis. Her performance against Osaka showed a player in complete control of her game, and if that level holds, Paris may finally deliver the Grand Slam title she has been chasing on clay.
