Aryna Sabalenka suffered a meltdown after failing to complete a historic three-peat at the US Open , during which she only vented at the cameraman, but also smashed her racquet after going down in three sets against Elena Rybakina in the final last Saturday at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. And the Belarusian has now paid the price for her meltdown as the United States Tennis Association slapped her with a fine for her conduct.
Sabalenka’s Frustration Leads to Fine After Grand Slam Loss
Aryna Sabalenka was fined following a code violation during the opening set of her recent Grand Slam final against Elena Rybakina. The incident occurred after Rybakina broke Sabalenka’s serve, prompting the Belarusian to hit the ball into the crowd in frustration. This action led to a warning from the umpire.
Sabalenka’s anger continued as she was seen striking the ball towards the back of the court, narrowly missing a cameraman. After the match, she smashed her racquet and expressed her disappointment at the post-match presentation ceremony.
“I just wanted to let all of that aggression and disappointment go outside (on the court),” Sabalenka stated. “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 (a) three-peat.”
Reflecting on her performance, she added, “I wish I could perform a little bit better, but I guess next year. Obviously, not really happy with the level I played (at).” She concluded, “I was just out there competing, trying to do my best with what I had. Not good enough.”
