Aryna Sabalenka noticed her two-year reign on the Australian Open finish after shedding to Madison Keys within the ultimate – and she or he didn’t take it neatly.
The arena’s No. 1 score participant used to be noticed at the ESPN broadcast slamming her racket in disgust after congratulating the American megastar on her 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 victory early Saturday morning at Rod Laver Enviornment on Saturday for her first Grand Slam championship.
Sabalenka additionally lined her face in a towel and stormed into her locker room after the beautiful disenchanted.
THIS MATCH POINT
Madison Keys is the 2025 Australian Open champ 
percent.twitter.com/YcE5uEaXdy— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 25, 2025
The Belarusian megastar, who had received 20 directly fits on the Australian Open, used to be denied the risk to change into the primary lady since Martina Hingis, from 1997-99, to protected a three-peat.
“There without a doubt used to be a bit of of frustration, as a result of I used to be so shut to succeed in one thing loopy,” Sabalenka informed journalists. “Whilst you’re in the market, you’re preventing, however it sort of feels like the whole thing (isn’t) going the way in which you in reality need (it) to move.”
“I simply had to throw the ones detrimental feelings on the finish, simply so I may just give a speech (and) no longer stand there being disrespectful,” Sabalenka added. “I used to be simply seeking to let it cross and be a excellent individual.”
Aryna Sabalenka throws her smashed racket after being defeated by way of Madison Keys of america within the Girls’s Singles Ultimate right through the 2025 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 25, 2025. Getty Photographs
Aryna Sabalenka choices up her smashed racket after shedding towards USA’s Madison Keys right through their girls’s singles ultimate. AFP by way of Getty Photographs
It looked as if it would paintings as she had a funny trade along with her training staff when addressing the gang after the fit – jokingly blaming the loss on them.
“As all the time, that’s your fault guys,” she stated. “I don’t wanna see you for the following week. I in reality hate you. No thanks for the whole thing you’re doing for me and blah, blah, blah.”
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts after shedding the ladies’s singles ultimate towards Madison Keys of the U.S. on the Australian Open. AP
Madison Keys of the U.S. celebrates with the trophy and previous tennis participant Evonne Goolagong Cawley after profitable the overall towards Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka, REUTERS
Sabalenka used to be additionally gracious to Keys in defeat.
Keys had no longer reached a Grand Slam ultimate since 2017 and at 29 turns into the fourth-oldest lady to win her first Grand Slam.
“I feel we did our easiest,” she stated. “Simply Madison used to be taking part in unbelievable. I simply couldn’t do anything else on this fit. Subsequent time I play towards Madison I carry higher tennis.”
By no means alternate, Aryna 
@SabalenkaA • #AO2025 percent.twitter.com/XPHOFJysn1— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2025
Sabalenka ended by way of sending like to her coaches – “even supposing we misplaced.”
For Keys, the win is a jump again from a crushing loss to Sabalenka within the 2023 U.S. Open semifinals after cruising to a first-set win.
“Aryna, improbable taking part in. I’m happy I in the end were given you again,” Keys stated. “You’re all the time so difficult to play. We all the time have the craziest fits. So congratulations to you and your staff for any other wonderful Grand Slam run.”
