Following her loss in the US Open women's singles final, Aryna Sabalenka faced significant online criticism for her on-court conduct and a subsequent outburst directed at a cameraman. Sabalenka was defeated by Elena Rybakina with a score of 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 on Saturday evening.
After the match concluded, footage emerged showing Sabalenka smashing her racket and later directing an expletive at a cameraman who was filming her. The incident quickly gained traction on social media platforms, with many users expressing disappointment in her sportsmanship.
Fans took to X, formerly Twitter, to voice their opinions. One user described Sabalenka's behavior as "pathetic" and "classless," adding that she made a "spectacle" by smashing her racket and "barely clapping for Rybakina." Another commenter stated that while they recognized her athletic achievements, Sabalenka's "horrible attitude" and lack of credit to opponents made her a "least favorite athlete." A third user called her an "absolute disgrace" and a "sore loser" with "no grace, decorum or respect."
Sabalenka, who was aiming for a third consecutive US Open title, addressed her emotional reaction in a post-match press conference. "I'm obviously not really happy with the level I played today, but she served incredible," she 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." She explained that she wanted to "let it go" to avoid a more significant emotional display.
In a separate incident noted after the trophy presentation, social media users pointed out a typographical error on the illuminated stand used for the women's singles trophy. The name of the jeweler, Tiffany & Co., was reportedly misspelled, with incorrect letters in the word "TIFFANY & CO."