New York, September 13 (Daily Kiran) : Aryna Sabalenka’s dream of winning a third consecutive US Open title came to an abrupt end on September 13, 2026, in New York. The world number two from Belarus faced off against Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina, the top seed, who ultimately triumphed with a score of 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.
Following the defeat, Sabalenka was visibly upset and, in a moment of frustration, smashed her racket. A video capturing this incident quickly went viral on social media, showing her repeatedly slamming the racket onto the ground until it was completely bent.
This loss marked a missed opportunity for Sabalenka to join the ranks of tennis legends Chris Evert and Serena Williams, who are the only women to have won three consecutive US Open titles in the Open Era.
After the trophy presentation, a disheartened Sabalenka sat with her team, where she declined to engage with a fan attempting to film her. It was clear she preferred solitude in the wake of her defeat.
In the post-match press conference, Sabalenka reflected on her emotions, stating, “When you lose in a Grand Slam final and you’re trying for a three-peat, it’s really hard to control your feelings. If I had held it in, I wouldn’t have said a word. I didn’t feel good there. I wanted to release all the anger and disappointment.”
For Rybakina, this victory marks her first US Open title and her third Grand Slam overall. She previously won the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and notably defeated Sabalenka to claim the Australian Open earlier this year. Now, Rybakina aims to complete her Grand Slam collection by winning the French Open, the only major title she has yet to secure.
Leave a Comment