Aryna Sabalenka loses No. 1 and US Open: How did Elena Rybakina take over?
Aryna Sabalenka endured a painful end to her US Open campaign, losing both the world No. 1 ranking and the title within 72 hours. Elena Rybakina first secured the top ranking before defeating Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the final. The loss left Sabalenka without a Grand Slam title in 2026, ending her bid for a third straight US Open crown. Despite the setback, she remained determined to reclaim…
Two-time defending champion and current world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka faced a $7,500 fine from the U.S. Open for the violent smashing of her racket in the final of the tournament. Sabalenka, 28, was defeated by incoming world No. 1 Elena Rybakina with a score of 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 at the U.S. Open in New York on Saturday. The Belarusian player admitted in her post-match press conference that she was struggling to control her emotions after losing in the Grand Slam final and trying to achieve a three-peat.
She stated that she needed to release the aggression and disappointment outside the court. The racket abuse violation is part of a series of 10 fines for such offenses during the 2026 tournament, as per the USTA statement. Other players fined for racket abuse included France's No. 10 seed Arthur Fils, Argentina's No. 24 seed Francisco Cerúndolo, and Frenchman Corentin Moutet, who each received a $10,000 fine.
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