Sabalenka smashes racket, hits ball into crowd after US Open defeat to Rybakina

Aryna Sabalenka reacts during the women's singles final of the US Open against Elena Rybakina (left) and Sabalenka smashes her racket after losing the women's singles final, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in New York.

Elena Rybakina came to New York and took everything that had belonged to Aryna Sabalenka. First, it was the No. 1 ranking in women's tennis, then the US Open trophy.The tournament that for so long was a struggle for Rybakina turned into the site of her coronation.Elena Rybakina won her first US Open title on Saturday after beating Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the final, completing a run that also took her to the No. 1 spot in the WTA rankings.

Rybakina had already secured the top ranking from next week and also ended Sabalenka’s two-year reign as US Open champion.“It’s still so difficult to process what happened,” Rybakina said. “Too many achievements these few weeks.”The US Open title is Rybakina’s third Grand Slam title and her second of the year.

Both of her Grand Slam wins this season came against Sabalenka on hard courts, after she also defeated the Belarusian in the Australian Open final.Rybakina also ended Sabalenka’s 19-match winning streak at the US Open. Sabalenka had not lost at Flushing Meadows since her defeat to Coco Gauff in the 2023 final.The win earned Rybakina $5.5 million, the biggest prize money in Grand Slam history. She also moved level with Sabalenka and French Open champion Mirra Andreeva for the most titles on the WTA Tour this season, with three each.

Sabalenka’s bid to win a third straight US Open title ended in the final, and her frustration was visible both during and after the match.The first signs came in the opening set when Sabalenka committed a costly double fault to surrender the first break of the match. In an immediate, fiery reaction to losing the game, she hit a tennis ball into the crowd. According to broadcasters, as quoted by Athlon Sports, the ball struck a courtside camera near the floor.

After the match, Sabalenka smashed her rackets on the court after missing the chance to become only the third woman in the Open Era to win the US Open title three years in a row.

Her disappointment continued after the trophy ceremony as well. While sitting with her team, she was approached by a video creator, but appeared to gesture for the person to leave as she tried to process the defeat."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 three-peat," Sabalenka told reporters.

"I just wanted to let it go, because if I would hold it inside. I wouldn't be able to say a word. I would just go not really nice over there."