SHOCKING: Aryna Sabalenka told ‘you’re dead to me’ as feud with US Open star goes public
A former friend of Aryna Sabalenka has launched a blistering attack on the US Open champion, declaring she is “dead” to him. The four-time Grand Slam champion was once close to Dave Portnoy, the boss of digital media firm Barstool Sports.
Portnoy says he was invited to watch the 2023 US Open final between Sabalenka and Coco Gauff from the Belusrian’s private box. He also once posted pictures of himself with Sabalenka on social media, captioning one: “The Queen of Tennis @SabalenkaA.” However, the relationship turned sour when she passed on doing a pizza review for his content company. Portnoy was left irked when Sabalenka began mixing with hospitality entrepreneur and friend of the stars David Grutman.
Taking to social media, Portnoy wrote: “Now, I’m not a huge tennis guy, I’ve bet [on tennis] a couple times. I was a big Sabalenka guy. Sabalenka invited me to sit in her box for the US Open against Coco before anybody f****** knew who she was.
“And then I asked her to do a pizza review and she’s like ‘Yes. Yes, yes.’ And then she got whooshed up into David Grutman in Hollywood and blew me off. So, she was dead to me.”
Portnoy’s claim that Sabalenka was a nobody in 2023 was wide of the mark, given that she was the world number two at the time. Portnoy also raged at the timing of Ben Shelton’s thrilling five-set victory over Carlos Alcaraz, which didn’t finish until 3.33am local time.
He said: “What is the US Open doing having matches end at 3:30 in the morning? How dumb are you?’ Like, what are you doing? 3:30 in the morning? I’ve had this rant in years past.”
On the court, Sabalenka may have lost the world number one spot but she is determined to keep her US Open title. The 28-year-old, who will be overtaken by Elena Rybakina at the top of the rankings on Monday, overpowered Jessica Pegula 7-5 6-2 to reach a fourth successive Flushing Meadows final.
The two-time champion took her winning streak in New York to 19 matches and is now one victory away from a third title in a row. A business-like victory was wrapped up in an hour and 20 minutes and celebrated with a simple clenched fist.
She said: “No complaints, I’m super happy to be able to play such tennis. I was so desperate to win, I wanted it badly.”
