Aryna Sabalenka smashes her racquet, leaves the court before ceremony in tears after crushing Australian Open Final loss
WTA
Aryna Sabalenka was defeated by Madison Keys on Saturday in the Australian Open final falling 3-6, 6-2, 5-7 and took out her frustrations afterwards showing the toll of defeat as she smashed her racquet and stormed off before the ceremony.
Sabalenka was broken at the last opportunity by Keys as it looked likely that it was heading towards a match tie-break. But instead of staying to congratulate Keys, she sat down with her towel over her head and then walked off before the ceremony.
She did similar after her US Open final loss when she was seen backstage smashing her racquet in scenes which were recorded. This was criticised widely though with similar pictures of Iga Swiatek also crying at tournaments in the back room also released.
But while Sabalenka will be upset, it is all part of the rigours of tennis. As the old adage goes, the setback being followed by the comeback and after previous Grand Slam defeats including against Coco Gauff in the US Open, she retooled and became even stronger.
She will hope to do so again but for now it is Keys moment. She followed up her title in Adelaide with the biggest of her career stretching her winning streak to 12 matches and ending Sabalenka's bid for a historic three peat.
Keys herself ahs painful memories of previous Grand Slam final losses with her maiden major final in 2017 being a defeat and while it has been a long wait since, it is certainly a bittersweet one at that as she achieves destiny.
She is the first woman to beat the World No.1 and World No.2 to win a Grand Slam singles title since Svetlana Kuznetsova in 2009 at Roland Garros. It also shows the continued surprise nature of WTA tennis with the big names never a foregone conclusion to win the title.
The emotions are high on both sides after a thrilling #AusOpen final 😢🏆 pic.twitter.com/wrlZU5rRGd
— Eurosport (@eurosport) January 25, 2025
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