A thriller at La Rod Laver Arena from Melbourne saw the American Madison Keys beat the number one player from the simple feminine Aryna Sabalenka to win the Australian Open on Saturday.
After hugging the winner’s hand, Sabalenka let his emotions escape her racket.
Sabalenka, who sought to become the first player from Martina Hingis to win three consecutive Australian opens, lost to Keys, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, in the match, which gave to His opponent his very first Grand Chelem. title.
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Aryna Sabalenka, from Belarus, reacts after the simple female final against the American Madison Keys during the Australian Tennis Open in Melbourne, Australia, on Saturday January 25, 2025. (Photo AP/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Sabalenka shook Keys’ hand towards the net, followed by the chair referee, but she was seen snapping her racket and launching it on the bench once the subtleties are over.
Sabalenka then covered his face with a towel before rushing into the locker room.
The heat of the competition that does not take place in your favor at the end can be difficult to swallow at the time, and Sabalenka said it during its post-match press conference.
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“There was certainly a little frustration, because I was so close to doing something crazy,” she said, according to the New York Post. “When you are there, you are fighting, but it seems that everything is not going as you really want.”
Sabalenka added that she “just needed to reject these negative emotions at the end”, and she literally did it with her Wilson racket. She said that she had to do it “to be able to give a speech (and) not to remain there to disrespect”.
“I was just trying to drop and be a good person,” said Sabalenka.
Bringing out the raw emotion seemed to work, since Sabalenka was seen joking with his team after the defeat.
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Aryna Sabalenka interviews after her match against Paula Badosa, from Spain, in the semi-finals of the simple female at the Australian Open 2025 in Melbourne Park. (Mike Frey-Imagn Images)
“As always, it’s your fault, guys,” she said, laughing. “I don’t want to see you next week. I really hate you. No thank you for everything you do for me and blah, blah.”
Sabalenka, however, returned to a serious note by addressing Keys.
“I think we have done our best,” said Sabalenka. “Madison was playing incredibly. I just couldn’t do anything in this match. The next time I play against Madison, I will bring better tennis.”
As for Keys, she also showed her love for Sabalenka, saying that it was “an incredible game” on her part. She also noted, at 29, that she would never have thought of winning a big slam even if she had approached it in the past.
“From a very young age, I had the impression that if I had never won a big slam, I would not have been up to what people thought I should have been. A fairly heavy burden to wear, “said Keys. .
Aryna Sabalenka, from Belarus, reacts in the simple female final against the American Madison Keys during the Australian Tennis Open in Melbourne, Australia, on Saturday January 25, 2025. (Photo ap/ng han guan)
“So, I finally got to the point where I was proud of myself and proud of my career, with or without a great home. I finally got to the point where I was ok if it did not happen. I didn’t need to feel that I had a good career or that I deserved that we are talking about me as a great tennis player.
