Just In: Aryna Sabalenka loses nearly half of £2m prize money after US Open misery
Aryna Sabalenka suffered a meltdown following her US Open final defeat to Elena Rybakina on Saturday, and she now faces surrendering nearly half of her £2.1million ($2.8m) runner-up cheque. Rybakina claimed her maiden US Open crown after defeating Sabalenka across three sets, mirroring their Australian Open final encounter from earlier this year. While Rybakina maintained her composure and displayed little emotion, Sabalenka’s frustration boiled over.
She was handed a code violation for ball abuse during the opening set and was seen destroying her racquet as Rybakina secured the biggest payday of her professional career. Although it remained a lucrative fortnight for Sabalenka, her financial deduction was substantial. A record prize fund was available at the US Open this year, with £80m ($108m) distributed across the tournament. The men’s and women’s singles victors collected £4.1m, the largest singles prize in Grand Slam history.
While the trophy remains the primary objective, the runner-up still departs with £2.1m. However, taxation then takes effect, dramatically reducing the final take-home amount.
Sabalenka will encounter a 37 per cent federal tax deduction, which will be extracted from her US Open earnings.
Furthermore, as the tournament takes place in New York, Sabalenka must pay an additional 9.65 per cent in state taxes.
The world No. 2 may avoid further taxation in her native Belarus, with taxes determined by residency, and Sabalenka is rarely in the country.
She instead resides in Monaco, which serves as a tax haven for its inhabitants. The 37 per cent federal deduction will amount to around £734,871 ($991,000), with the additional New York State taxes totalling just over £200,000 ($270k).
Therefore, Sabalenka will take home roughly £1.1m ($1.5 m) of her total $2.1m winnings.
Sabalenka had been the clear favourite heading into the women’s US Open final, despite not having claimed a Grand Slam title this year.
As a two-time defending champion, she was bidding to become only the third woman in history to secure a hat-trick of titles at the tournament.
There was also a sense of revenge in the air, as Rybakina won sufficient matches at the US Open to overtake Sabalenka at the top of the WTA rankings.
As Rybakina began to assert her dominance, Sabalenka’s frustration became increasingly apparent, and she unravelled as the match progressed.
Following several racket throws, aggressive ball strikes into the air or towards the crowd, and audible outbursts during the match, Sabalenka was asked about her capacity to manage her temper.
“It’s really tough to control your emotions when you lose in the final of the Grand Slam and when you were trying to go for three-peat,” she said.
“So I just wanted to let it go, because if I would hold it inside, right now or here or there on the court, I wouldn’t be able to say a word or I would just go not really nice over there. So I just wanted to let all of that aggression and disappointment go outside.
“I was just out there competing, trying to do my best with what I had there today. Not good enough.
