Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Aryna Sabalenka has been fined $7,500 by the United States Tennis Association for her conduct during the US Open final, adding to the frustration of a disappointing end to her Grand Slam campaign. Sabalenka lost 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to Elena Rybakina in the championship match on Saturday, September 12.
The fine stemmed from a code violation after Sabalenka hit a ball into the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd following a break in the opening set. Her frustration continued during the match, with the Belarusian also angrily hitting a ball towards the back of the court and narrowly missing a cameraman. After the defeat, Sabalenka smashed her racket several times while sitting at her bench before the trophy presentation.
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SABALENKA FIGHTS BACK BUT RYBAKINA HOLDS FIRM
Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion, was aiming to become only the third woman in the Open Era to win three consecutive US Open titles. She struggled to impose her usual aggressive game early on as Rybakina took the first set.
The world No.1 responded strongly in the second set, raising her intensity and eventually forcing a decider by winning it 7-5. However, Rybakina regained control in the third, breaking early and making the most of longer rallies as Sabalenka committed errors under pressure. Rybakina eventually closed out the third set to claim her first US Open title.
Sabalenka had nevertheless enjoyed a strong US Open campaign, reaching the final without dropping a set before the championship match. Her run also extended her remarkable record at Flushing Meadows, where she had won 20 consecutive matches before the final.
The defeat also extended a significant title drought. Sabalenka completed the Sunshine Double in March 2026, winning Indian Wells and Miami in succession. Those remain her only titles since Brisbane earlier in the year, meaning she has not lifted another trophy since Miami.
More importantly, Sabalenka finishes 2026 without a Grand Slam title. She reached the Australian Open final earlier in the year but lost to Rybakina before falling to the Kazakh again in New York.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
