By Alberto Amalfi | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Photo credit: ESPN
NEW YORK—Some players have loyal fan followings.
Aryna Sabalenka inspires impressionists.
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Two-time Australian Open champion Sabalenka came face-to-face with her Mini Me in Louis Armstrong Stadium today.
In the aftermath of her 6-3, 6-1 US Open second-round sweep of Lucia Bronzetti, the second-seeded Sabalenka spotted her mini doppelganger in the crowd and pulled her close for a photo.
The little girl was wearing the same purple Nike outfit and holding a toy Tiger in tribute to Sabalenka's famous Tiger tattoo on her forearm.
The 2023 US Open finalist said she spotted the young fan on the big screen—setting the stage for the cute meeting.
"It was really adorable moment. I just looked up, and I saw on the big screen, like, mini me," Sabalenka said afterward. "It was so cute (laughing).
"It's such a motivation to keep going to inspire the young generation. That's the main goal. Yeah, that was very adorable moment."
The former world No. 1 said it's the first time a fan has gone full Sabalenka at one of her matches.
"The first time I see someone, like, dressing -- dress up the same as me and having little tattoo and little tiger," said Sabalenka, who will play 29th-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova in round three. "How cute is that?"