Credit: X
Amid the electrifying atmosphere of the 2025 US Open at Flushing Meadows, a heartwarming moment captured the hearts of thousands in attendance and millions watching worldwide during a third-round match on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The incident occurred on August 29, 2025 during a break in Aryna Sabalenka’s faceoff against Leylah Fernandez. The moment, captured in a viral clip shared by the official US Open account on social media, reportedly underscored the tournament’s knack for blending athletic drama with human stories. It is said that the gesture by the fans became one of the defining moments of this year’s tournament.
During the break in Aryna Sabalenka’s victory game against Leylah Fernandez, a fan reportedly named Daniel Carter proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Emily Harper, in a touching display that momentarily upstaged the tennis action. The romantic moment, met with cheers and applause from the crowd. The proposal unfolded during a changeover in the second set of Sabalenka’s match. As the jumbotron shifted to the crowd, a tradition at the US Open, it focused on the couple seated in the lower tier of Arthur Ashe Stadium. The crowd erupted as Harper’s hands flew to her face in surprise, her eyes glistening with emotion. The woman, visibly overwhelmed, nodded to the proposal and reportedly said, “Yes!” prompting a thunderous ovation from the 23,000-strong audience.
I looked at my boyfriend, no pressure: says Aryna Sabalenka hysterically on the proposal during her game
Aryna Sabalenka, fresh off her 6-3, 6-4 win, commented on the proposal in her post-match press conference, saying, “I was trying not to smile because it’s so cute. I wish them a happy marriage.” She added with a laugh, “I looked at my boyfriend. No pressure!”. This wasn’t the first time the 2025 US Open saw a romantic highlight. Earlier in the tournament, the reported engagement of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce was announced. Reports claim that Daniel Carter had been planning the proposal for months, choosing the US Open because it held special meaning for their relationship. “Emily and I met playing tennis, and we’ve watched every US Open together since 2020. I knew this was the place to ask her,” he said.
As the US Open continues, Aryna Sabalenka has advanced to the fourth round after her victory against Leylah Fernandez. She avenged her 2021 US Open semi-final defeat with a 6-3, 7-6 (2) straight-sets victory. “I wanted this revenge badly,” Sabalenka reportedly said after the match. The Belurisian will face Spain’s Cristina Bucsa in her next bout. In other games, Spanish second seed Carlos Alcaraz and Serbian player Novak Djokovic both booked their places into the last 16, edging closer to a semi-final showdown in the tournament.
