Aryna Sabalenka exited the WTA Finals in Riyadh after a three-set loss to Elina Svitolina in their final round-robin match, bringing her 2026 season to an abrupt close.
Sabalenka fell 3-6, 6-3, 1-6 to Svitolina in a grueling encounter that ended her hopes of reaching the semifinals. Two days prior, the Belarusian player suffered another straight-sets loss against 19-year-old Mirra Andreeva, dropping the final 11 games of that match consecutively.
Her 2026 campaign concluded without a single Grand Slam singles title, despite reaching the finals at both the Australian Open and the US Open and compiling a tour-leading 81% win percentage through 47 victories and 11 defeats.
As the semifinal berth slipped away, Sabalenka vented her frustration on the court. BBC reported that she smashed a racket and slumped to the floor at the back of the court as the defeat settled in.
The early exit in Saudi Arabia capped a turbulent season marked by high-profile disputes and penalties. In September, following a defeat to Elena Rybakina in the US Open final that ended her 99-week reign at world number one, Sabalenka smashed a racket and directed an abusive remark at a nearby photographer, risking a substantial fine.
Her on-court apparel also drew scrutiny throughout the year. According to the Daily Mail, she wore a sheer, lingerie-style outfit during matches that critics derided as novelty attire, to which she responded that public opinion was irrelevant.
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