Aryna Sabalenka chokes back tears as US Open runner-up forced to do ‘last thing she wants’
Aryna Sabalenka fought back tears as she addressed the US Open crowd moments after suffering a heartbreaking 6-4 5-7 6-2 defeat to Elena Rybakina in Saturday’s final. Sabalenka came to Flushing Meadows as the world No. 1 and the two-time defending champion. But her unbeaten run here has come to an end, and Rybakina has also overtaken her in the rankings.
Sabalenka had made it clear that all she cared about this fortnight was completing a three-peat in New York. She was one set away from becoming just the third woman in the Open Era to win the US Open three years on the trot. But she was outplayed by a sublime Rybakina, who hit 36 winners on her way to victory.
The 28-year-old is known for giving hilarious speeches during trophy ceremonies, win or lose. But the defeat hit hard, and Sabalenka struggled to speak as she stepped up to the microphone, admitting this was the last thing she wanted to do.
“That’s the last thing I want to do right now is do speech, but I’ll try my best,” the tearful runner-up said. “Thank you, everyone. Thank you for support throughout the two weeks. It was amazing playing in front of you all.”
Although Sabalenka was visibly disappointed, she still showed her class as she addressed Rybakina, the newly-crowned champion, who also beat her in the Australian Open final back in January.
“Obviously, I’m disappointed, but I want to congratulate Elena on an incredible year, an incredible result. Well deserved. Enjoy it, have fun tonight, tomorrow, and until the end of the season, so I can play and win some titles! Thank you,” she joked.
“Thank you all of the sponsors for making this event possible and thank you everyone who helped me throughout this two weeks, I really felt like home here and I cannot wait to come back next year.”
As she turned her attention to her own support camp, Sabalenka welled up again, and swiftly ended her speech. “To my team, to my friends, I wish I could perform a little bit better…” she said, welling up again. “But I guess next year. Thank you.”
Rybakina also shared some kind words for the beaten finalist as she stepped up to collect her trophy – and a £4million ($5.5million) winners’ cheque. “It’s tough to find words right now,” she said.
Honestly, didn’t expect nothing like this coming to this tournament, I’ve been dealing a little bit with an injury but somehow everything came together and on my side, and I just want to say, Aryna, you’re a big champion.
“It’s so difficult to play against you! You push [me] to such a limit. I was diving on the court and just trying to get all the possible balls, and yeah, just congrats to you for all the achievements, congrats to your team, you guys do an amazing job, really.”
