If Aryna Sabalenka’s record is impressive, the boss of the WTA regularly suffers disappointments in Grand Slam finals. Despite her success at the end of the US Open, the Belarusian had already lost on the last step of the Australian Open and Roland-Garros 2025. A similar mishap was repeated this Saturday in the final of the Australian Major in Melbourne in front of Elena Rybakina (6-4, 4-6, 6-4).
The world number 1 appeared with a smile on her face, but was emotionally scarred at the press conference. “I was laughing and crying at the same time,” she described to journalists with a nervous laugh. I was hysterical, having a completely unproductive discussion with my team. I let it all out… I was very angry with myself because, once again, I had my chances. I played very well up to a certain point and then I was no longer able to respond to his attacks on the court. I’m not happy with myself at all. »
“I don’t want to think about tennis”
Sabalenka doesn’t throw everything away, however. She thinks she “played really well,” simply falling against a “better” and “incredible” player. “We will discuss it with the team. At the moment they are trying to avoid me because they know it’s not good for your health to be around me right now,” she commented with a laugh.
She was still aware of the mismanagement of the last set of the final. “Of course I have regrets. I was leading 3-0 and in a few seconds I found myself at 3-4 with a break behind. It happened very quickly. Maybe I wasn’t smart enough,” she analyzed. She will have plenty of time to study this defeat with her staff, but it was not her priority after the final: “Now, I don’t want to think about tennis. »
