Elena Rybakina claimed her third Grand Slam title at the US Open by defeating Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the final. The loss marked another significant setback for Sabalenka, who was seeking to win the championship for a third consecutive year. Beyond the match result, Rybakina ascended to world number one, ending Sabalenka’s 99-week reign at the top of the rankings.
Sabalenka struggled to contain her frustration throughout the encounter, displaying her emotions through animated expressions and racquet contact with the court. After the match concluded, she was visibly upset, striking her racquet against the floor and using profanity toward a cameraman as she sat with her support team. When speaking to media afterward, Sabalenka acknowledged the difficulty of managing her feelings, explaining that releasing her disappointment externally prevented her emotions from boiling over during competition.
The defeat compounds a disappointing campaign for the Belarusian, who will finish the season without claiming a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2022. This marked her second runner-up finish in a major tournament this year, having previously lost the Australian Open final to Rybakina. Commentator Annabel Croft suggested that Sabalenka’s negative body language in early stages of the match contributed to her poor performance, noting that she appeared to defeat herself rather than being outplayed.
Despite the heartbreak, Sabalenka expressed determination to improve. She indicated that the experiences and lessons from the season would strengthen her resolve moving forward, vowing to perform better in future competitions.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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