Andy Roddick has strong message for anyone criticising Aryna Sabalenka’s behaviour at the US Open, ‘I don’t care’

Andy Roddick, a former US Open champion, has defended Aryna Sabalenka against critics who have expressed disapproval of her actions following her loss in the US Open final. Sabalenka, the 2026 WTA Tour champion, was seen throwing her racket to the ground and smashing it on the court after losing to Elena Rybakina. These actions have drawn criticism from fans and pundits, with Chanda Rubin describing the behavior as 'not a good look'.

Roddick, however, is not impressed by the criticism. In an interview on the Served Podcast, he stated, "People are often looking for a reason to just be upset about something and to go Twitter finger their account. I just think that they are going to look for something." Roddick emphasized that he won't get upset if someone breaks their own racket, as long as they remain gracious.

He acknowledged that Sabalenka has been salty in defeat before, including her controversial comments after losing the 2025 Roland Garros final to Coco Gauff. However, Roddick believes there is a double standard when it comes to sportsmanship.

He pointed out that athletes often get criticized for their behavior after losing high-profile matches, such as NBA Finals or Wimbledon, while breaking their equipment seems to be met with indifference. Roddick explained, "It’s like what do you want? It’s like whatever, just let people live. The mistake she has made before is being disrespectful and taking credit away from your opponent in a public fashion, but I don’t care what you say to your team.

As long as there is a base level of respect for who you have played and what you have done and what they’ve done, if you break a racket, who cares?"

Roddick concluded, "I can't imagine being an adult seeing that and then going to a social media account and being like 'I can't believe she broke a racket'. Come on, what are we doing!" Sabalenka's reaction to her loss in the US Open final can be seen as understandable given the brutal circumstances she faced. Tennis fans should be understanding that players need to express their frustrations sometimes, and Sabalenka's actions did not show any outward disrespect to her opponent.