A Final That Nearly Went Further Off the Rails
Aryna Sabalenka's US Open final loss to Elena Rybakina was painful enough on its own, but the Belarusian's on-court behavior added another layer of drama to an already tense afternoon on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Sabalenka, who was outplayed for much of the match, smashed a ball into the crowd during the opening set and later fired another in frustration that flew dangerously close to a cameraman positioned at the back of the court. Had that ball connected, she could have faced disqualification, much like Novak Djokovic was in 2020 when a ball he struck in anger hit a line umpire in the throat. A few inches in a different direction, and Sabalenka's afternoon could have ended in the most dramatic fashion imaginable.
Rybakina ultimately sealed the title 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, and Sabalenka capped the match by smashing her racket into the court surface before retreating to sit beside her boyfriend Georgios Frangulis and her coaching team.
Mixed Emotions at the Trophy Ceremony
Despite her frustration, Sabalenka composed herself for the post-match ceremony, admitting she had little desire to speak but pushing through anyway. She congratulated Rybakina on a remarkable run, joking that she hoped to pick up some titles while her rival enjoys her moment. Rybakina, for her part, was visibly more expressive than usual after big victories, describing how she fell deeper in love with New York with every visit and noting she had arrived at the tournament managing a nagging injury.
The loss ended Sabalenka's dominant run at the US Open and cost her the world number one ranking. TennisDraw users who had backed Sabalenka to defend her title will be rethinking their bracket strategy heading into the next major.
