Aryna Sabalenka experienced a devastating emotional collapse following her Australian Open final defeat to Elena Rybakina, with the world number one left in tears and swearing at her team in the aftermath. The Belarusian powerhouse, who has dominated women's tennis for the past two seasons, suffered a dramatic reversal of fortune after establishing a commanding 3-0 lead in the deciding set, only to watch her opponent mount an extraordinary comeback to claim victory 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
Sabalenka's Bitter Disappointment in Melbourne
Three years after losing to the same opponent in one of the most memorable Grand Slam finals in recent history, Rybakina has returned to the pinnacle of women's tennis. For Sabalenka, however, this represented another bitter disappointment to digest, particularly given her strong position in the final set. The 2023 and 2024 Australian Open champion was visibly distraught immediately after the match, covering her head with a towel while awaiting the trophy presentation ceremony.
Raw Emotions in the Press Conference
Within an hour of leaving the court, Sabalenka faced the media in a press conference that revealed the depth of her frustration. The top-ranked player admitted to experiencing a "hysterical moment" of simultaneous laughter and tears, describing the emotional release as unproductive but necessary. "I was just letting everything go out," she confessed, adding that she felt particularly upset with herself for missing crucial opportunities during the match.
Sabalenka acknowledged Rybakina's superior performance on the day, stating: "She played an incredible match, and I tried my very best. I was fighting until the very last point. Today she was the better player." However, she also revealed that her coaching team was actively avoiding her in the immediate aftermath, joking that they recognized it wasn't "healthy to be around me right now."
The Turning Point in the Deciding Set
Former British number one Annabel Croft, speaking on BBC Radio Five Live, provided expert analysis of Sabalenka's dramatic collapse. "I felt that Sabalenka really beat herself up in that final set," Croft observed. "The minute panic set in, she just steamrolled in the wrong direction."
Croft elaborated on Sabalenka's psychological unraveling: "I think the composure Sabalenka had for most of the match got her to 3-0 in the final set. I felt that she had really taken her game to another level, but she couldn't keep forging ahead because there was resistance down the other end. Then the arms started flailing and it got a little bit immature out there. She wasn't handling the situation well, she was strutting around and she lost her composure completely."
Team Dynamics and Future Prospects
When questioned about when she would eventually debrief the final with her coaching team, Sabalenka responded with a heavy sigh before turning to her agent and another team member present in the room. "When... Today? Oh, f*** you, no!" she exclaimed humorously. "Maybe in a week. Or maybe in a few days. Whenever I feel like, okay, I can move on from this one."
Despite the painful defeat, Sabalenka maintained perspective about her overall performance in Melbourne. "I think overall I played great tennis here in Australia," she reflected. "Even in this final I feel like I played great. I was fighting. I did my best." She also expressed optimism about the future, noting: "You know, today you're the loser; tomorrow you're the winner. Hopefully I'll be more of a winner this season than a loser."
The 2026 Australian Open final represents another chapter in the compelling rivalry between Sabalenka and Rybakina, with both players having now experienced both triumph and heartbreak in their Grand Slam encounters. While Rybakina celebrates her return to the top of women's tennis, Sabalenka faces the challenging task of regrouping psychologically and tactically as she looks ahead to the remainder of the season.
