Aryna Sabalenka will finish the season without a Grand Slam title and lose her world number one ranking to rival Elena Rybakina following a 6–4, 5–7, 6–2 defeat in the US Open final. Sabalenka struggled to control her emotions throughout the match, smashing a racket on the bench and firing a ball into the crowd after losing four of the last five Grand Slam finals she has played.
The Emotional Fallout of a Grand Slam Final Loss
Frustration boiled over for Sabalenka as she failed to find a tactical response against Rybakina on the court. The outgoing world number one threw her hands up in desperation, ohlížela se na svůj tým, and later smashed her racket on the bench after the final point. Sabalenka also allegedly used rough language to ask a camera operator not to film her.
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“It is really hard to control your emotions when you lose a Grand Slam final and you’re going for the hat-trick,” Sabalenka told reporters, referencing her US Open titles from 2024 and 2025. “If I kept those emotions inside, I wouldn’t be able to say even one word here or on the court. I wanted to get all the aggressiveness and all the disappointment out.”
Rybakin’s Dominance and the Shift in the Rankings
Sabalenka was candid about her opponent’s superior performance during the championship match. Sabalenka conceded that Rybakina played aggressive, beautiful tennis.
“She served unbelievably,” Sabalenka said. “She played very aggressive and beautiful tennis. Today she was just better than me.”
The defeat marks a painful season for Sabalenka, who also lost the Australian Open final to Rybakina in January. Her wait for a title has lasted since completing the Sunshine Double in March, and she will finish the year without a Grand Slam triumph and lose her world number one ranking in the new rankings release. Rybakina will take over the throne, where Sabalenka had been for 99 weeks starting in October of the year before last, and a total of 107 weeks.
“We’ll see if Elena overtakes me in this statistic,” Sabalenka noted. “If she keeps playing like this, I have a problem.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the US Open final between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina?
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Elena Rybakina ovládla finále US Open po výsledku 6:4, 5:7, 6:2.
How does this loss affect Aryna Sabalenka’s ranking?
Sabalenka will lose the world number one ranking to Rybakina, ending a reign where she was on the throne for 107 total weeks, including 99 weeks.
What did Sabalenka say about her performance?
Sabalenka admitted she struggled to manage her emotions and praised Rybakina for playing aggressive, superior tennis with incredible serving.
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