CARLOS Alcaraz jokingly made to leave the Today show set after Aryna Sabalenka got his name wrong.
This year’s US Open men’s and women’s singles champions whisked their trophies along as they joined the program in New York City.
Sabalenka became the first woman to successfully defend their title at Flushing Meadows since Serena Williams in 2014 by beating American Amanda Anisimova 6-3 7-6 on Saturday night.
Alcaraz, meanwhile, won the latest instalment in his thrilling rivalry with Jannik Sinner 6-2 3-6 6-1 6-4 in Sunday’s delayed final.
In doing so, the Spaniard reclaimed his world No1 ranking from Sinner.
But it was the Italian that Sabalenka appeared to be thinking of as she discussed her thriving TikTok account.
Talking about her love of making videos, the Belarusian pointed to her fellow champion and said, “By the way, I had a TikTok to do with Jann… er Jann.”
Sabalenka almost calling Alcaraz by his rival’s name caused a frenzy among the hosts, who yelled “woah, woah, woah” in unison.
Good sport Alcaraz jokingly made to leave the studio after Sabalenka’s faux pas.
The 27-year-old then placed her hand on her fellow star’s arm as she apologised, saying, “Carlos, man, I’m so sorry. Okay, never-mind.”
Alcaraz and Sabalenka showed off their shiny US Open trophies at the Today show studio[/caption]
Alcaraz, 22, beat rival Jannik Sinner in Sunday’s men’s singles final[/caption]
Playing off the potentially awkward incident, Alcaraz playfully said, “It is nine in the morning, don’t worry.”
Sabalenka dramatically went on, “This is the worst failure I’ve had in my life.”
She then hopefully added, “can we can cut this?” – although the clip was not axed.
Having put Sabalenka’s gaffe behind them, the US Open champions did make a TikTok together.
Making light of the fact that the duo share a birthday, Sabalenka wrote, “Birthday twin and @usopen trophy twin, May 5th must be a really lucky birthday to have…”
The four-time Major champion then showed the pair clutching their trophies while busting out some moves, albeit Sabalenka with more convincing gusto than Alcaraz.
Evidently a TikTok novice compared with Sabalenka, Alcaraz went on to comment on the post, “I still don’t know what I did’.
Tennis bosses may want Alcaraz to become more familiar with the online platform, after last month agreeing a strategic partnership with TikTok.
During his Today show interview, the Murcia man gushed over his rivalry with Sinner.
He said, “I think we push each other to the limit every time and my practices is just focused to see how I could be better just to beat Jannik.
“That rivalry is special, splitting the Grand Slams, fighting for the great things, and then seeing that thanks to him I’m just a better player.
“I think the rivalry is great for that.”
