Losing Australian Open finalist Aryna Sabalenka has explained her racquet-smashing tantrum that happened moments after Madison Keys won her maiden grand slam title.
As Keys celebrated her first major with a 6-3 2-6 7-5 win in front of a packed Rod Laver Arena, Sabalenka was seen breaking her racquet before departing the court after the handshake with the No. 19 seed and chair umpire.
Sabalenka was aiming to win a third consecutive Australian Open title after lifting the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup in 2023 and 2024.
And the world No. 1 revealed the emotion of coming so close to a hat-trick of Melbourne Park championships was too much in the moment.
MORE: Has a player ever won three consecutive Australian Open titles? Sabalenka misses out on extraordinary hat-trick
Madison Keys is Australian Open champion! 🏆
What a moment for the 29-year-old American, who wins her 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻 Grand Slam title! 👏#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/sLESodibkc
— Eurosport (@eurosport) January 25, 2025
“Well, I mean, there definitely was a bit of frustration because I was so close to achieve something crazy,” Sabalenka said in her media conference.
“When you’re out there, you’re fighting, but it seems like everything going not the way you really want to go.
“I just needed to throw those negative emotions at the end just so I could give a speech, not stand there being disrespectful.
“I was just trying to let it go and be a good person, be respectful.”
Sabalenka admitted the pressure of joining six other three-time consecutive Australian Open champions was something she thought about before the match.
“I think maybe before the game I kind of, like, was thinking about that,” she said.
“Like, I didn’t want to block those stats. When you try to block something, it’s growing bigger and bigger. Of course, I was thinking about that.”
