Aryna Sabalenka Game, Set, Match on This Racket … Smashes It to Bits After Heartbreaking Loss
Published January 25, 2025 12:35 PM PST |
Updated January 25, 2025 1:18 PM PST
Aryna Sabalenka won’t win her third Australian Open in a row … and, while she usually wins the break point, she reached her breaking point after the heartbreaking L — taking it out on her trusty racket.
The Belarusian tennis standout was playing American Madison Keys in the final … and, ended up losing the third set 7-5, dropping two out of three after battling back down 1-0 to force a tiebreaker.
After a hard-fought final point, Keys emerged victorious … walking up to Sabalenka to hug — which the superstar did politely, if a bit stony-faced.
While Keys celebrated her victory by waving to the crowd, the real fireworks began near Sabalenka’s bench … where she repeatedly beat her racquet into the ground before spiking it away.
Watch the clip for yourself … even the commentators sound a bit taken aback.
Australian Open TV
Sabalenka talked to the press about the blow-up after … admitting it was caused by a bit of frustration — stemming from how close she got to the three-peat.
This is Keys’ first Grand Slam victory … she fell just short of winning the 2017 US Open — losing in the final to Sloane Stephens. Sabalenka — as we mentioned — has won two Australian Opens, and she won the US Open last year as well.
It looks like she really wanted this one though … and just couldn’t hide the frustration.
