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Aryna Sabalenka being asked to creation aft defeating Naomi Osaka successful nan French Open has 1 erstwhile American tennis prima perplexed.
It was an awkward segment astatine Roland-Garros erstwhile Sabalenka, who beat Osaka successful consecutive sets, 7-5, 6-3, was asked by broadcaster and ex-player Fabrice Santoro to creation pinch nan crowd. He moreover asked for euphony to beryllium played.
Sabalenka obliged contempt being hesitant astatine first, but it was a confusing business for galore successful nan tennis industry, including Andy Roddick.
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Aryna Sabalenka dances to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" during her post-match question and reply aft defeating Naomi Osaka successful nan 4th information connected Day Nine of nan 2026 French Open astatine Roland Garros successful Paris, France, connected June 1, 2026. (Robert Prange/Getty Images)
Roddick, who took location a azygous Grand Slam title successful his profession astatine nan 2003 U.S. Open, said astir Santoro’s petition connected his "Served" podcast.
"I for illustration him, but saying, ‘Will you creation for us?’ is conscionable specified a weird point to ask. I don’t for illustration it," Roddick stated. "And past erstwhile she does it a small spot and it’s benignant of over, to past inquire her to moonwalk. …I don’t know. Maybe group loved it, and I mightiness beryllium successful nan minority."
TENNIS STAR MOCKS JEERING CROWD WITH PROVOCATIVE DANCE AFTER AUSTRALIAN OPEN VICTORY
The moonwalk inquire came from Michael Jackson’s "Thriller" playing complete nan speakers astatine Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Roddick said he understands "the characteristic side" of really post-match interviews are conducted, but he couldn’t get past this one.
"Props to her for doing it, but I conscionable thought it was weird. I deliberation that’s specified a unusual point to inquire personification to do successful a master setting."
Former tennis subordinate Andy Roddick hosts nan Served podcast unrecorded from nan Fan Zone during time 2 of Laver Cup 2025 astatine Chase Center successful San Francisco, Calif., connected Sept. 20, 2025. (Miikka Skaffari/Getty Images for Laver Cup)
It’s worthy noting that Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic, who was amazingly upset successful his past lucifer astatine Roland-Garros, seemed to beryllium having a title pinch post-match ceremony dances passim nan French Open.
That ended, though, erstwhile Djokovic mislaid his third-round matchup pinch Spain’s Joao Fonseca, a 19-year-old phenom who came backmost from down 2-0 successful nan lucifer to triumph successful a thrilling manner crossed 5 sets.
But location person been moments successful nan past wherever viral reactions person been sought aft during these post-match situations, immoderate of which travel crossed arsenic uncomfortable aliases awkward.
Roddick intelligibly recovered this 1 to be, and Sabalenka will person astatine slightest 1 much lucifer moving guardant arsenic she searches for her first French Open victory.
Aryna Sabalenka dances to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" during her post-match question and reply aft defeating Naomi Osaka successful nan 4th information connected Day Nine of nan 2026 French Open astatine Roland Garros successful Paris, France, connected June 1, 2026. (Robert Prange/Getty Images)
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The 28-year-old existent world No. 1 successful women’s singles has 4 Grand Slam singles titles nether her belt, including 2 wins astatine nan U.S. Open successful 2024 and 2025. She besides took location nan Australian Open crown successful 2023 and 2024.
Sabalenka will return connected No. 25 Diana Shnaider successful nan quarterfinals connected Wednesday astatine 6:10 a.m. ET.
Scott Thompson is simply a sports writer for Fox News Digital.
