Aryna Sabalenka vents fury over racket, cameraman after US Open defeat: Video
Aryna Sabalenka was left devastated after her US Open title defence ended in heartbreak, with the Belarusian smashing her racket following her 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 defeat to Elena Rybakina in the 2026 final.
Sabalenka had been chasing a third straight US Open title after triumphs in 2024 and 2025. However, Rybakina produced a powerful display to end her reign at Flushing Meadows and claim her first US Open crown.
US Open 2026 women’s singles final Highlights
The frustration boiled over after the match as the World No.2 smashed her racket on the ground, having missed the chance to become only the third woman in the Open Era to win the title at Flushing Meadows three years in a row.
The Belarusian’s disappointment was also visible away from the court. While sitting with her team after the trophy ceremony, she was seemingly approached by a video maker. Sabalenka appeared to gesture for the person to go away, seemingly seeking some privacy as she processed the defeat.
In the post-match press conference, Sabalenka said, “It’s really tough to control your emotions when you lose in a final of a Grand Slam and when you were trying to go for 3-peat. If I were to hold it inside, right now or on the court I wouldn’t be able to say a word. I would go not really nice over there. I wanted to let go of all that aggression and disappointment outside.”
HOW RYBAKINA BEAT SABALENKA IN THE FINAL
Rybakina made the better start, taking the opening set behind her powerful serve and aggressive baseline game. Sabalenka responded in the second, raising her level to win it and force a decider.
But Rybakina regained control in the third set. The Kazakhstani continued to dictate with clean groundstrokes and a potent serve, while Sabalenka struggled to maintain her second-set intensity. Rybakina raced through the decider to seal her first US Open title.
The triumph gave Rybakina her third Grand Slam crown, following Wimbledon in 2022 and the Australian Open earlier in 2026. She had also beaten Sabalenka in the Australian Open final this year.
Rybakina had earlier replaced Sabalenka as world No.1 with her win over Zheng Qinwen. For Sabalenka, the defeat meant she finished 2026 without a Grand Slam title, with her US Open triumph in 2025 remaining her most recent major title.
– Ends
