Devastated Aryna Sabalenka smashes racket, hits ball into crowd after US Open defeat to Elena Rybakina

Aryna Sabalenka reacts during the women's singles final of the US Open against Elena Rybakina (left) and Sabalenka smashes her racket after losing the women's singles final, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in New York. “Too many achievements these few weeks.”The US Open title is Rybakina’s third Grand Slam title and her second of the year. Sabalenka had not lost at Flushing Meadows since her defeat to Coco Gauff in the 2023 final.The win earned Rybakina $5.5 million, the biggest prize money in Grand Slam history. In an immediate, fiery reaction to losing the game, she hit a tennis ball into the crowd. "It's really tough to control your emotions when you lose in the final of the Grand Slam and when you were trying to go for three-peat," Sabalenka told reporters.

Source: Times of India September 13, 2026 02:54 UTC