When Aryna Sabalenka spoke with Jelena Ostapenko after her second-round loss to Taylor Townsend at the U.S. Open on Wednesday, she wasn’t aware of the heated post-match spat between the competitors .

Sabalenka, the world No. 1, came away from their conversation seemingly concerned that the Latvian star is dealing with something in her personal life that is affecting her ability to keep her poise.

“Well, I have to say that she’s nice. She just sometimes can lose control. She has some things in life to face and some struggles, so I was just trying to help her to … not like face it more in a mature way, but I was just trying to help her to settle down … and someone she could speak to and let it go,” Sabalenka said after defeating Polina Kudermetova in straight sets Wednesday night in the

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