Aryna Sabalenka criticised for what she did after losing the US Open final as some fans call for her to be fined

The WTA superstar also hit a ball into the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium, for which she was questioned when speaking to the media afterwards.

What did you make of Aryna Sabalenka’s reaction to the loss?

The Belarusian smashed her racket after match point…

Defending the hit and the racket smash, Sabalenka admitted it’s tough to control her emotions in such a high-pressure situation.

But many tennis fans have failed to see her side of the story, criticising the four-time Grand Slam champion for failing to keep her emotions in check at the US Open.

Aryna Sabalenka criticised for racket smash after US Open final

Calling for a strict punishment for her behaviour, one fan wrote on X: “Should fine her for the outbursts, bet she wouldn’t do it then.”

Agreeing, a second fan said: “Sabalenka is a total embarrassment to women’s professional tennis, the US Open and women athletes in every sport. I hope she is fined heavily and isn’t allowed to play on tour again until she gets some help getting her mind right!”

Meanwhile, other unimpressed fans wrote: “Pathetic. Not a role model and she needs to grow up. There are millions of young girls watching,” and “It is hard to control your emotions when you are immature and unprofessional.”

Agreeing, another commented: “Maybe Elena can start teaching a class on winning with poise once she’s retired. I’m sure Aryna would be welcome to attend and learn a lot!”

Sharing a similar verdict, another fan wrote: “What’s the point of building that image via TikTok etc when you have to undo it every time you speak after losing!”

And summarising the thoughts of many fans, another noted: “Take a look at your prize money, maybe reflect for a second on what a privileged situation you are in and handle losses with a bit of class.”

READ MORE: Marion Bartoli has praise for ‘absolutely extraordinary’ Elena Rybakina after her win vs Aryna Sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka attempts to justify US Open racket smash

Sabalenka was indeed visibly frustrated after losing to Rybakina, which is more than understandable given the circumstances.

And while her actions are certainly not a good look for any of her fans or aspiring players, it is very difficult to remain calm and collected after such a high-stakes loss.

Attempting to justify her actions, the Belarusian said to the media: “It’s really tough to control your emotions when you lose in the final of a Grand Slam and when you were trying to go for a three-peat.

“So I just wanted to let it go because if I were to hold it inside, right now or there on the court I wouldn’t be able to say a word, or I would just go not really nice over there. So I wanted all of that aggression and disappointment to go outside.”

While it is difficult to justify her behaviour, it was clearly the healthiest option for Sabalenka to let go of her frustration in the moment.

Moreover, she still took time to speak to the media after the loss, with the same unable to be said for a handful of her fellow players in recent times.

Add to Preferred Sources