Aryna Sabalenka says she wanted to take out her frustration on a racket because she didn’t want to risk potentially being nervous and disrespectful during her on-court speech.
Moments after Madison Keys blasted a forehand winner to complete a 6-3 2-6 7-5 win, the Belarusian shook the American’s hand and as soon as she arrived on the bench, she started smashing her racket in frustration.
The top seed then covered her head with a towel and also briefly left the court.
Racket destroyed, head in towel. Gotta feel for Sabalenka. pic.twitter.com/CB855bInFI
— Tennis GIFs🎾🎥 (tip jar🫙📌) (@tennis_gifs) January 25, 2025
While Sabalenka was taking it out on her racket, the 29-year-old was celebrating with her team on the other side of the court.
“Well, I mean, there definitely was a bit of frustration because I was so close to achieve something crazy,” the Belarusian explained in her post-final presser.
“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, be respectful.”
Sabalenka admits she knew what was on the line
Had the 26-year-old defeated Keys, she would have become the sixth player in Australian Open history to complete a three-peat at the tournament.
Also, it would be the first case of that happening since Martina Hingis did it in 1999.
After she failed to achieve the feat, Sabalenka didn’t hide that she knew she could possibly join Hingis, Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles on a very special list.
“I think maybe before the game I kind of, like, was thinking about that,” she said.
“Like, I didn’t want to block those stats. When you try to block something, it’s growing bigger and bigger. Of course, I was thinking about that.”
In four months, Sabalenka will try to lift her first French Open title and her fourth Grand Slam main glory.
Tennis World USA