Tennis-Sabalenka’s little doppelganger delights fans at the US Open

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Aryna Sabalenka prevailed in her second-round match at the U.S. Open on Wednesday, while one of her youngest fans captured the hearts of tennis fans everywhere by dressing like her idol.

The girl, wearing a matching pink Nike jersey and showing off a temporary tiger tattoo on her left forearm, enthusiastically cheered on Sabalenka during her 6-3, 6-1 win at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

“I looked up and saw something like a miniature of myself on the big screen. It was so cute,” Sabalenka said, laughing.

“It’s a great motivation to keep going and inspire the younger generation. That’s the main goal. It was a wonderful moment.”

After the fight, Sabalenka rushed to the girl, who presented the Belarusian with a stuffed tiger. Sabalenka was inspired by her tiger tattoo, which, she said, reminds her to always fight to the end.

The couple posed for photos together and Sabalenka made sure to take some with her own phone.

“(It was) the first time I saw someone dressed up like me and had a little tattoo and a little tiger,” she told reporters. “How cute is that?”

Sabalenka was not the only one who was enchanted by her little doppelganger.

“Stop what you are doing, we are having the moment of the tournament,” the US Open posted on its X-account along with a video of the interaction.

“So sweet,” commented Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur.

Second seed Sabalenka will look to continue to please fans of all ages when she faces Ekaterina Alexandrova in the third round on Friday.

(Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles, additional reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Michael Perry)