Tennis star Aryna Sabalenka had an unfortunate slip of the tongue during a live TV appearance alongside men’s world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz.
The two US Open champions were appearing on NBC’s Today Show when the unfortunate blunder took place.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Sabalenka accidentally calls Alcaraz wrong name.
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Sabalanka, who won her fourth grand slam title last week, was discussing her off-court antics on social media after posting plenty of celebration content following her triumph in New York.
“I’m terrible at dancing! I always pick the easiest moves just so I look OK,” she said.
But then the conversation took a hilarious turn when she accidentally referred to Alcaraz as his biggest rival, Jannik Sinner.
“Anyway, I have a TikTok to do with Jann... ehh Jannik…”
Sabalenka quickly realised her mistake and put her hand on Alcaraz’s shoulder as she apologised.
As the hosts burst out in laughter, Sabalekna looked embarrassed by the situation and later asked if they can “cut it”.
“This is the worst failure I’ve ever had in my life,” she said.
Alacaraz jokingly pretended to leave the set, but happily laughed off the mix-up.
“It’s nine in the morning, don’t worry. It’s all good, it’s all good,” he said, before adding: “I didn’t hear anything so don’t worry at all.”
Sabalenka made good on her promise to post the TikTiok with Alcaraz, sharing a little clip of the pair dancing with their matching trophies as Muni Long’s viral track Made for Me played over the top.
“Birthday twin and @usopen trophy twin,” she captioned the video. “May 5th must be a really lucky birthday to have…”
The pair coincidentally have the same birthdate with Sabalenka exactly five years older than Alcaraz.
Meanwhile, Alcaraz officially returned to No.1 in the ATP rankings for the first time in two years, replacing Sinner after beating the Italian in the US Open final.
Alcaraz moved up from No.2 and swapped places with Sinner by virtue of Sunday’s 6-2 3-6 6-1 6-4 victory at Flushing Meadows.
Sinner had held the top spot since making his debut in New York in June 2024, a 65-week long stay.
Alcaraz first reached that spot in September 2022 at the age of 19 — making him the youngest No. 1 in ATP history — by claiming his first major championship at that year’s US Open. He relinquished that ranking in September 2023.
“When you achieve the goals you set up (for) yourself at the beginning of the year, it feels amazing,” Alcaraz said after winning his second US Open title and his sixth Grand Slam trophy.
“For me,” he added, “(to) achieve that once again ... is a dream.”
Germany’s Alexander Zverev stayed at No. 3 when the new rankings were released on Monday, while Novak Djokovic, the 24-time major champion who lost to Alcaraz in Friday’s semifinals, went up three spots from No. 7 to No. 4.
Amanda Anisimova jumped five spots to a career-best No. 4 in the women’s WTA rankings after finishing as runner-up to Sabalenka.
Belarusian Sabalenka was assured of remaining at No. 1 by getting to the quarterfinals in New York, then wound up collecting her second US Open title in a row with a 6-3 7-6 (7-3) win over American Anisimova.
Anisimova’s second consecutive runner-up finish at a major — she lost to Iga Swiatek in the Wimbledon final in July — allowed her to climb five spots from No. 9, part of a remarkable surge from outside the top 350 when she returned last season from a mental-health break.
Poland’s Swiatek, eliminated in the US Open quarterfinals by Anisimova, stayed at No. 2, followed by Coco Gauff.
Jessica Pegula slid from No. 4 to No. 7. She exited against Sabalenka in the semifinals last week, a year after losing to her in the US Open final.
Naomi Osaka’s first Grand Slam semifinal since the 2021 Australian Open — she lost Thursday to Anisimova in that round — carried her from No. 24 to No. 14.
The American four-time major champion and former No. 1 hadn’t been in the top 20 since January 2022.
- With AP
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