Aryna Sabalenka explains US Open final racket smash, 'tough to control emotions’ after slipping to defeat against Elena Rybakina
By Tom Masters
Published 13/09/2026 at 11:43 GMT+1
React to this story
Aryna Sabalenka endured yet another difficult match as she fell to a defeat in the US Open final against Elena Rybakina. Attempting to go for a three-peat, having won both the 2024 and 2025 editions of the Flushing Meadows tournament, Sabalenka found herself unable to stop her Kazakh opponent, losing 6-4 5-7 6-2.
‘I don’t think she’s winning’ – Konta on Sabalenka chances at US Open
Video credit: TNT Sports
With it, she ended her 20-match winning streak at the US Open, while it was already confirmed that her 99-week reign as world No. 1 would come to an end, no matter the result.
It also meant that Sabalenka has failed to win a major title in a calendar year for the first time since 2022.
The Belarusian was understandably frustrated during the final on Arthur Ashe Stadium and, as a player who does not shy away from her emotions on the court, she smashed her racket on the floor in the second set, which she would end up winning.
When asked why she slammed her racket, Sabalenka said: "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.
"So I just wanted to let it go, because if I would hold it inside, right now or here or there on the court, I wouldn't be able to say a word or I would just go not really nice over there.
"So I just wanted to let all of that aggression and disappointment go outside."
- Elena Rybakina wants to 'push for more' after US Open 2026 triumph moves her within one title of career Grand Slam
- From 'ecstasy' to 'methodical' - how 'shocked' Ben Shelton reached first major final after beating Frances Tiafoe
The defeat for Sabalenka was her fifth in a final since 2023 and her fourth in the last two years, having also slipped to losses in both of the last two Australian Open finals and the 2025 final of the French Open.
Going into the US Open, though, it seemed as if Sabalenka would struggle to reach the latter stages after round-of-16 losses at the Cincinnati Masters, National Bank Open, and Wimbledon.
So, while there is clear disappointment and frustration at another final loss and at losing her world No. 1 status, Sabalenka explains that she is happy with how her tournament went and the level she was able to play at throughout.
"I think overall I should be happy with the level I played, and there's lots of things to take from this tournament," she continued.
"Experience shows that I only come back stronger and all of these lessons this season definitely already made me stronger, but definitely going to motivate me for the next year to do a better job."
Add TNT Sports as a preferred source here to enjoy more content like this.
Watch and stream top tennis action, including the Australian Open and French Open, live with TNT Sports on HBO Max.
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement