Aryna Sabalenka Defends Emotional Racket Smash and Ball Abuse Following US Open Final Heartbreak
Aryna Sabalenka openly defended her on-court emotional outbursts, including a racket smash and ball abuse, after her devastating loss to Elena Rybakina in the 2026 US Open final. Sabalenka, who finished as runner-up in two Grand Slams this season, stated that releasing her aggression was necessary to prevent her from being unable to speak or acting “not really nice” in her post-match press conference. This defeat, marking her fifth Grand Slam final loss, also saw her cede the World No. 1 ranking to a dominant Rybakina.