How much racket-smashing fit cost Aryna Sabalenka at US Open

Aryna Sabalenka’s U.S.Open crash out will cost her.The former world No.

1 received a $7,500 fine for smashing her racket after losing the women’s singles final Saturday to Elena Rybakina in three sets at Arthur Ashe Stadium.At the end of the match, the Belarusian sat on her bench and smashed her racket into the ground several times before tossing it to the side.It was only part of the wild meltdown that also included Sabalenka telling a camera person to “f–k off” when the camera was put on her as she sat with her team, awaiting the start of the trophy ceremony.“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 in her post-match press conference.

“So I just wanted to let it go, because if I would hold it inside, right now or here 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 just wanted to let all of that aggression and disappointment go outside.”Sabalenka was chasing a three-peat but came up short in three sets 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to Rybankina, who is set to take over the world No.1 rank.She started to find her game in the second set, bu an emotional collapse plagued her in the third set.Sabalenka would have become the first woman since Serena Williams (2012-14) to win three consecutive titles at the hard court slam.During the trophy ceremony, Sabalenka said, “That’s the last thing I want to do right now is give a speech, but I’ll try my very best.”It was the second time this year Rybakina bounced Sabalenka from a Grand Slam title.

Rybakina got the best of the 28-year in the women’s singles Australian Open final in January, and she also won Wimbledon by downing Ons Jabeur in 2022.“Well, it’s tough to find words right now, honestly,” Rybakina said after the match.“I didn’t expect nothing like this coming to this tournament.

I’ve been dealing a little b...