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Sabalenka Smashes Rackets After Rybakina Ends US Open Bid
Elena Rybakina won the US Open final against Aryna Sabalenka.
The match lasted three sets and ended 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.
Sabalenka won the second set and tried to make a comeback.
Rybakina played better in the last set and won the championship.
Sabalenka had hoped to win the tournament for the third year in a row.
After losing, she was very upset and smashed rackets.
She also told a nearby cameraman to move away.
Sabalenka later said the outburst helped her release her anger and disappointment, and she still attended the trophy ceremony.
Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the 2026 US Open women’s singles final.
Rybakina won her maiden US Open title after taking control in the deciding set.
Sabalenka’s defeat ended her bid for a third consecutive US Open championship after victories in 2024 and 2025.
Sabalenka smashed rackets, hit a ball into the stands and angrily waved away a cameraman after the loss.
Sabalenka said the outburst helped release her aggression and disappointment before she attended the trophy ceremony.
- Who
- Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the women’s singles final.
- What
- Rybakina won the 2026 US Open, while Sabalenka lost her bid for a third straight title and reacted angrily afterward.
- Where
- Flushing Meadows in New York.
- When
- The 2026 US Open final, with post-match incidents reported on September 12, 2026.
- Why
- Rybakina won by taking the first and deciding sets; Sabalenka said she smashed her rackets to release aggression and disappointment.
Key facts
- Final score
- Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.
- Champion
- Elena Rybakina won her maiden US Open title.
- Sabalenka’s previous titles
- Sabalenka won the US Open in 2024 and 2025.
- Missed achievement
- Sabalenka was attempting to become only the third woman in the Open Era to win the US Open three years in a row.
- Other ranking loss
- Sabalenka lost the world No. 1 ranking after 99 weeks at the top, according to one report.
- On-court reaction
- Sabalenka smashed a racket, hit a ball into the stands and received a warning from the chair umpire.
- Sabalenka’s explanation
- She said the racket smashing allowed her to release her aggression and disappointment.
- Ceremony
- Sabalenka attended the trophy ceremony and delivered a runner-up speech.
Quotes
Aryna Sabalenka
Belarusian tennis player who lost the US Open women’s singles final
“I’ll just keep working hard and keep improving my tennis. There’s lots of things to take from this tournament. As experience shows, I only come back stronger, and all of these lessons this season definitely already made me stronger. Definitely going to motivate me for the next year to do a better job.”
indianexpress.com
“I just wanted to let all of that aggression and disappointment go outside (on the court). 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 (a) three-peat, so I just wanted to let it go.”
indianexpress.com
freepressjournal.in
Sources
Aryna Sabalenka Smashes Racket After US Open Final Loss To Elena Rybakina; Video Goes Viral
Watch: Aryna Sabalenka destroys racquet after losing US Open title, World No 1 spot
'I Wanted To Let Go Of All That Aggression': Aryna Sabalenka Explains Racket Smash After US Open Final Loss To Elena Rybakina | Video
Aryna Sabalenka Snaps At Cameraman After Heartbreaking US Open Final Defeat | Video
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