New York: Aryna Sabalenka’s dream of winning a historic third consecutive US Open title ended in an explosive emotional outburst.
The Belarusian star was beaten by Elena Rybakina 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in a dramatic final, ending Sabalenka’s bid to join an elite list of women who have won the US Open three years in a row.
The defeat appeared to hit Sabalenka hard. After the match, the visibly frustrated former champion smashed her racket and was seen venting her anger before reacting angrily towards a nearby camera. Reports said she also asked the cameras to stop filming her.
Sabalenka’s frustration was understandable given what was at stake. The loss not only ended her US Open title defence but also brought her 99-week reign as world No. 1 to an end, with Rybakina taking the top spot.
The Belarusian had already shown signs of mounting frustration during the match, including hitting a ball into the crowd. After the final, her emotional reaction quickly became one of the biggest talking points from the tournament.
Rybakina, meanwhile, held her nerve under enormous pressure to claim her first US Open championship and her third Grand Slam title. The Kazakh player has now beaten Sabalenka in two Grand Slam finals in 2026.
Comments
Sign in with Google to comment.