The outgoing world No 1 smashed a ball into the crowd as she lost her cool in the opening set and she then fired a ball in anger that came close to striking a cameraman at the back of the court.
Novak Djokovic was infamously disqualified from the US Open back in 2020 after he fired a ball that hit a line umpire in the throat and if Sabalenka’s angry outburst had been a few inches closer to the cameraman, she may have suffered a similar fate.
An emotional Sabalenka smashed her racket into the ground once again as Rybakina confirmed her 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 win and she went to sit with her boyfriend Georgios Frangulis and her extended coaching team as she tried to come to terms with her first defeat at the US Open since 2023.
With emotions close to the surface, Sabalenka admitted she did not want to make a speech, but she did her best to try and give some thoughts to the huge crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“The last thing I want to do right now is give a speech but I’ll try my best,” said Sabalenka.
“Obviously I’m disappointed, but I want to congratulate Elena on an incredible year, an incredible result.
“Well deserved. Enjoy it tonight, and have fun. So I can win some titles!
“I wish I could have performed a little bit better, but I guess there’s next year.”
