World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka‘s dominant run at the 2026 French Open produced another highlight after her fourth-round win over Naomi Osaka. However, it was her post-match interview rather than her tennis that became the talking point.
Following Sabalenka’s 7-5, 6-3 victory on Court Philippe-Chatrier, former player and broadcaster Fabrice Santoro referenced the Belarusian’s popular warm-up dance videos and asked her to perform for the crowd. With Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” playing through the stadium speakers, Sabalenka initially responded with a surprised, “Here?” before agreeing.
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Sabalenka then said, “Only if everyone is dancing,” and proceeded to do two dance steps and stops. However, Santoro then asks her to do a moonwalk, which she immediately does flawlessly on the clay as fans cheer.
The moment soon went viral across social media, but not everyone viewed the exchange positively.
Former US Open champion Andy Roddick criticized the segment on his Served podcast, arguing that it crossed the line between entertainment and professionalism.
“I always got along with Fabrice Santoro,” Roddick said. “Not a lot of the veterans, when you come out, are super nice. He was always great. I like Fabrice Santoro. And saying, “Will you dance for us?” is such a weird thing to ask. I don’t like it.”
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He also took issue with Santoro asking Sabalenka to do the moonwalk after the initial dance.
“And then when she does it a little bit and it’s kind of over, and then being like, ‘Moonwalk,’ I’m like, ‘F**k.’ I don’t know. Maybe people loved it. I might be in the minority.”
Roddick talked from Aryna Sabalenka’s perspective
Roddick’s main concern was the position it placed Sabalenka in. He described it as a “lose-lose situation” because declining the request could have made her appear uncooperative despite having just completed a physically demanding match.
“If Sabalenka’s like, ‘No thank you,’ then everyone’s like, ‘What, you can’t play along? That’s no fun.’ It’s a lose-lose situation. You’re either kind of corny,” Roddick explained.
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His co-host Mike Hayden echoed that view, suggesting valuable interview time with one of the sport’s biggest stars could have been used for more meaningful discussion about her performance.
That’s a valid argument. Modern tennis increasingly promotes player personalities to connect with fans, and Sabalenka has become one of the WTA’s most marketable figures because of her authenticity and energy. At the same time, post-match interviews traditionally focus on tactics, preparation, and performance.
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What should not be lost in the debate is Sabalenka’s tennis. The four-time Grand Slam champion handled Osaka with authority and continued a season that already included titles at Indian Wells and Miami. The dance generated headlines, but her ability to deliver under pressure remains the real story behind her success.
AloJapan.com