Aryna Sabalenka Loses US Open Final, Smashes Racket and Sparks Viral Drama After Rybakina Defeat
Aryna Sabalenka’s dream of winning three consecutive US Open titles came crashing down in New York, and the Belarusian star struggled to hide her frustration after a painful defeat to Elena Rybakina.
Rybakina produced a superb performance in the US Open final, defeating Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to win her maiden US Open title. The victory was even more significant because it also helped Rybakina take over the world No. 1 ranking.
For Sabalenka, however, the night was all about what got away.
The defending champion had arrived at Flushing Meadows with history within touching distance. A third straight US Open title would have put her among a very exclusive group of women’s players in the Open Era. Instead, Rybakina ended that dream in a dramatic three-set battle.
And Sabalenka’s emotions were impossible to miss.
Sabalenka’s frustration boiled over
The tension was visible during the match itself. Sabalenka struggled to maintain her usual level against Rybakina, and one of the biggest turning points came when she committed a costly double fault and surrendered the first break of the match.
Her reaction immediately caught attention.
In a moment of frustration, Sabalenka hit a tennis ball toward the crowd. According to the report, the ball struck a camera positioned near the edge of the court.
It was a clear sign that the pressure of the occasion was beginning to get to her.
Sabalenka had every reason to be frustrated. She was not simply playing for another Grand Slam trophy. She was chasing history.
She had won the US Open in both 2024 and 2025 and entered the final with an impressive 19-match winning streak at Flushing Meadows. Her last US Open defeat had come in the 2023 final against Coco Gauff.
That incredible run ended against Rybakina.
The Kazakh star did not allow Sabalenka to find a comfortable rhythm for long periods. Rybakina’s powerful serve and aggressive baseline game repeatedly put pressure on the defending champion.
Sabalenka fought back brilliantly in the second set, winning it 7-5 and forcing a decider. For a moment, it looked as though the comeback might be complete.
But Rybakina had other plans.
She regained control in the third set and closed out the match 6-2, securing one of the biggest victories of her career.
Rybakina takes the title and No. 1 ranking
The victory was a huge milestone for Rybakina.
The 2026 US Open title became her third Grand Slam championship and her second major of the season. Remarkably, both of her Grand Slam victories this year came against Sabalenka on hard courts.
Earlier in the season, Rybakina defeated the Belarusian star in the Australian Open final. Months later, she repeated the feat on the biggest hard-court stage in New York.
But the US Open victory came with an additional reward.
Rybakina moved to the top of the WTA rankings, taking the No. 1 position that had been held by Sabalenka.
In one tournament, she managed to take both the trophy and the top ranking from the player who had dominated Flushing Meadows for the previous two years.
That makes the result even harder for Sabalenka to digest.
The racket smash after the final
Once the match was over, Sabalenka’s frustration continued.
After losing the final, she slammed her rackets onto the court. It was an emotional reaction from a player who knew just how close she had been to creating another piece of tennis history.
Losing a Grand Slam final is difficult for any player. Losing when you are trying to win the same major for a third consecutive year is another level of disappointment.
Sabalenka had been just one victory away from joining an extremely select group of women to win the US Open three years in a row during the Open Era.
Instead, her remarkable Flushing Meadows streak came to an end.
The images of her frustration quickly became one of the talking points surrounding the final.
Sabalenka also confronted a video creator
The drama did not end when the match ended.
During the trophy ceremony aftermath, Sabalenka was with her team when a video creator approached her. Clearly still emotional from the defeat, she told the person to move away.
The moment may have looked harsh from the outside, but Sabalenka later explained why she was struggling to control her emotions.
She admitted that losing a Grand Slam final while chasing a third consecutive title made it extremely difficult to keep everything under control.
Her explanation was simple: she wanted to let the emotions out rather than keep everything bottled up.
That is perhaps the most relatable part of the entire episode.
Professional tennis often shows players celebrating with smiles, trophies and champagne. But the other side of elite sport is rarely as polished. Players invest months, sometimes years, into a single opportunity, and when that opportunity disappears in a matter of hours, the emotional reaction can be intense.
Sabalenka’s reaction showed exactly how much the US Open meant to her.
A painful night for Sabalenka, a historic one for Rybakina
There is no doubt that Sabalenka will be disappointed with how the final ended.
She had the chance to win her third consecutive US Open title. She had the experience, the form and the confidence that came from dominating the tournament for two straight years.
But Rybakina produced the performance that mattered most.
The 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 scoreline tells the story of a final in which both players had their moments, but Rybakina was the stronger competitor when the match reached its decisive stage.
For Rybakina, New York became the place where two major achievements arrived together: her first US Open trophy and the WTA world No. 1 ranking.
For Sabalenka, it became a night of frustration, missed opportunities and an emotional reaction that has now gone viral.
Still, one defeat does not erase what Sabalenka has accomplished at Flushing Meadows. Winning the US Open twice and reaching the final again is an extraordinary achievement in itself.
The rivalry between these two stars may also be far from finished.
Rybakina has now beaten Sabalenka twice in Grand Slam finals this season, while Sabalenka will undoubtedly be determined to respond the next time they meet.
For now, though, the spotlight belongs to Rybakina.
She arrived in New York chasing a breakthrough.
She left as a Grand Slam champion and the new world No. 1.
And Sabalenka? She left with a painful reminder of just how unforgiving sport can be when history is within reach.
What do you think about Aryna Sabalenka’s reaction after the US Open final? Was it understandable given the pressure of the occasion? Share your opinion in the comments.
