WTA Elena Rybakina US Open 2026 Aryna Sabalenka

This was Sabalenka's 'explosion' after losing to Rybakina: she smashes her racket, insults a cameraman

Fernando Murciego - 13 Sep 2026
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This was Sabalenka's 'explosion' after losing to Rybakina: she destroys her racket, insults a camera...

Aryna Sabalenka experienced one of the most bitter nights of her career at Arthur Ashe this Saturday. The Belarusian was unable to complete her long-awaited three-peat at the US Open and ended up watching as Elena Rybakina took the crown after a match that lasted 2 hours and 21 minutes.

The defeat was particularly painful for Sabalenka, who was the champion in New York in 2024 and 2025. She had the opportunity to become the first woman in the Open Era to win three consecutive tournament titles, but Rybakina ended her reign and also took the world number one spot.

After the handshake at the net, Sabalenka returned to her bench visibly affected. During the match, she had already thrown a ball into the stands, and once the match was over, she unleashed her frustration on her racket, smashing it into the ground until it broke. The Belarusian later explained the reason for her reaction in the press conference.

“It’s really hard to control your emotions when you lose a Grand Slam final and when you’re trying to get a third consecutive title,” she acknowledged. “I just wanted to let it out because if I had kept it inside, I wouldn’t have been able to say a word or would have done something that wouldn’t have been right on the court,” Sabalenka added, who felt it was necessary to express all the accumulated aggression and disappointment.

The scene inevitably recalled the final of 2023, when Sabalenka lost to Coco Gauff and also had moments of great frustration in New York. This time, the blow was even greater. Not only did she miss out on the longed-for three-peat, but she also lost the world number one ranking to the very player who had just defeated her. 

As the trophy ceremony was being prepared, Sabalenka appeared visibly emotional and even asked the cameras to stop filming her. New York once again showed the harshest side of sports, that of defeat.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Así fue la "explosión" de Sabalenka tras caer ante Rybakina: destroza la raqueta, insulta a un cámara...