Sabalenka Fined $7,500 for Racket Smash After U.S. Open Final Loss
The former world No. 1 was penalized for smashing her racket and verbally abusing a cameraman following her defeat to Elena Rybakina.
Aryna Sabalenka has been fined $7,500 for her actions following her loss in the U.S. Open women's singles final. The penalty includes $7,500 for racket abuse and a verbal tirade directed at a cameraman.
Sabalenka smashed her racket on the court multiple times after her three-set defeat to Elena Rybakina, which cost her a potential third consecutive U.S. Open title. Following the match on Arthur Ashe Stadium, the Belarusian then told a camera person to "f–k off" when the camera focused on her as she sat with her team, awaiting the trophy ceremony.
"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," Sabalenka stated in her post-match press conference. "So I just wanted to let it go, because if I would hold it inside, right now or here or there on the court, I wouldn’t be able to say a word or I would just go not really nice over there. So, I just wanted to let all of that aggression and disappointment go outside."
Sabalenka, who was seeking to become the first woman since Serena Williams (2012-14) to win three consecutive U.S. Open titles, lost to Rybakina with a score of 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. Rybakina's victory will see her ascend to the world No. 1 ranking.
During the trophy ceremony, Sabalenka acknowledged the difficulty of the moment, saying, "That’s the last thing I want to do right now is give a speech, but I’ll try my very best."
This was the second Grand Slam final this year in which Rybakina defeated Sabalenka. Rybakina also bested Sabalenka in the Australian Open final in January and won Wimbledon in 2022.
Rybakina expressed her surprise and joy after the match. "Well, it’s tough to find words right now, honestly," she said. "I didn’t expect nothing like this coming to this tournament. I’ve been dealing a little bit with the injury, but somehow everything aligned together on my side. I honestly was coming here for the last 10 years and was never successful, nothing close to that. And, I mean, it’s just incredible. I’m falling in love with New York more and more."