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Aryna Sabalenka celebrated her French Open advancement with a signature Michael Jackson move
The 28-year-old Belarusian tennis player defeated Naomi Osaka at Roland Garros on Monday
Broadcaster and former tennis player Fabrice Santoro asked Sabalenka to do a victory dance on the tennis court
Aryna Sabalenka knows how to celebrate.
On Monday, June 1, the 28-year-old Belarusian tennis player defeated Naomi Osaka, also 28, at the French Open at Roland Garros 7-5, 6-3 and was asked by broadcaster and ex-player Fabrice Santoro, 53, to do a victory dance for the crowd.
“Here?” Sabalenka asked while still standing on the tennis court.
As Santoro encouraged her, the athlete said she would proceed “only if everyone [in the stadium] is dancing.”
“Everyone dance,” she added.
Santoro called for the music to be cued up and Michael Jackson’s 1982 hit song “Thriller” began to play seconds later.
Sabalenka started with an easy warm-up before laughing while transitioning to one of the signature dances from the King of Pop’s official music video. As the crowd cheered her on, she ended with a moonwalk at the request of Santoro.
Aryna Sabalenka dances after defeating Naomi Osaka, 2026 French Open, Roland Garros on June 01, 2026
Credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty
“Moonwalking on Chartrier feels very appropriate for my first @rolandgarros night match 🕺🌙 Thank you for dancing with me tonight, Paris!! See you in the quarterfinals 💪🏼,” she captioned an Instagram carousel after her victory.
Her post ended with a clip of the playful moment.
Both Sabalenka and Osaka are four-time Grand Slam champions. However, Osaka faced three straight losses to her opponent in 2026.
After the loss on Monday, Osaka spoke with reporters about previously being “very, very disappointed in myself after matches like these,” per Fox News.
“But I kinda realized it doesn’t matter at all,” she continued.
“I’ve played her multiple times and sadly to say lost multiple times. The only thing I can keep doing is trying my best. Maybe, hopefully, it’ll work out in my favor one day. But I can’t let myself be discouraged every time I lose to someone or win against someone. Because honestly, hitting a ball doesn’t really matter, like, on Earth, kind of,” Osaka said, according to the outlet.
Aryna Sabalenka embraces Naomi Osaka of Japan after victory, 2026 French Open on June 01, 2026
Credit: Ian MacNicol/Getty
Sabalenka has also spoken candidly to reporters, and in late May, addressed backlash she faced for wearing 200 carats of jewelry when she styled her outfit with diamond-and-garnet necklaces during her first-round French Open win.
“Diamonds, I don’t really feel the heaviness, but I can imagine how it looks from the outside,” Sabalenka told reporters. “So I feel pretty comfortable. For me, it’s important to look good.”
Her comments came weeks after she and other players, such as French Open champion Coco Gauff, released a statement asking the tournament for more prize money, prompting one reporter to ask if her display of jewels was “hypocritical.”
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“I don’t really see how it can be possible to cross these two completely different worlds,” Sabalenka said. “And as I said before, prize money, it’s not like it’s about me at all.”
“It’s just fighting for players, lower ranked players who are really struggling to survive in this tennis world. It has nothing to do with me that I’m fighting for the prize money. Everyone knows that I’m okay,” she continued.
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