A tennis great has ripped into Aryna Sabalenka for taking some of the gloss off Madison Keys’ stunning n Open win by abruptly leaving the court soon after match point on Saturday night.
The world No.1 was left devastated after losing 6-3 2-6 7-5, and although she warmly congratulated Keys at the net and shook hands with the chair umpire in the immediate aftermath, she soon completely lost her composure.
Sabalenka smashed her racket to bits next to her courtside seat, then sat with a towel draped over her head to hide her face before storming off the court and up the players’ tunnel to cool down.
The short break worked and she returned to draw several laughs from the crowd in a heartfelt and funny speech as she received the runner-up’s trophy.
However, former world No.5 Jo Durie was left unimpressed by Sabalenka’s decision to vacate centre court, believing the surprising act took the focus away from Keys during the biggest moment of her career.
‘It’s a shame she did that,’ Durie told viewers on Eurosport’s coverage of the match.
Aryna Sabalenka is pictured abruptly leaving the court before the trophy presentation ceremony after the n Open women’s singles final on Saturday
The devastated world No.1 tried to hide her emotions under a towel after congratulating Madison Keys on her underdog victory
Sabalenka completely lost her composure in the immediate aftermath of the defeat – but recovered to stir the crowd with a classy speech once she returned to the court
‘I know that she is going for a third title and emotions are running high, but it does rather take away from the moment for Madison.’
Sabalenka’s coold-down break left tennis fans divided, with commenters calling her a ‘demonstrative sore loser’ and ‘classless’, with one writing, ‘Madison Keys deserved that win AND she deserved more respect from Sabalenka. This was very poor sportsmanship.’
However, other commenters on X backed the Belarusian to the hilt.
‘Think people criticising Sabalenka are pathetic. She’s an elite competitor who lost a very tight Grand Slam final, in her disappointment she smashed her racquet. She hugged her opponent and gave a gracious speech. Get over it folks and give her a break,’ one wrote.
‘Sabalenka absolutely allowed to be p***ed off. Aiming for something historic with the 3-peat. Highest level of sport. Unreal match and was going to be emotional. Clearly frustrated but was gracious at the net and gracious at the presentation. Let them be human,’ another added.
The three-time grand slam champion explained the reason for her outburst after the match.
‘There definitely was a bit of frustration because I was so close to achieving something crazy,’ she said.
The shattered Belarusian explained that her outburst was about trying to exorcise her negative emotions so she could clear her head and address the fans at Rod Laver Arena
‘When you’re out there, you’re fighting, but it seems like everything going not the way you really want to go.
‘I just needed to throw those negative emotions at the end just so I could give a speech, not stand there being disrespectful.
‘I was just trying to let it go and be a good person.’
Sabalenka was hoping to match the great Martina Hingis (1997-99) in tasting Open glory for three straight years.
The only others to have achieved the feat are Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles.
Sabalenka, who was acutely aware of the historical significance of her latest attempt, won 20 straight matches at Melbourne Park over three campaigns before falling to Keys.
‘I didn’t want to block those stats,’ Sabalenka said.
‘When you try to block something, it’s growing bigger and bigger. Of course, I was thinking about that.
‘The moment I stepped on court, I was just trying to focus on the game and things I have to do to win this match.’