Aryna Sabalenka Hit With Heavy Fine After US Open Final Outburst
Aryna Sabalenka has reportedly been handed a significant financial penalty following her emotional reaction during and after her 2026 US Open final defeat to Elena Rybakina.
The Belarusian entered the final hoping to win the tournament for a third consecutive year, but her hopes were ended by Rybakina, who defeated her 4-6, 7-5, 2-6 to claim her first US Open championship and move to the top of the WTA rankings.
Sabalenka struggled to contain her frustration throughout the match. During the contest, she smashed her racket after becoming increasingly frustrated, while she had also received a warning after hitting a ball away in anger following a double fault and lost service.
Her frustration continued after Rybakina secured the championship. Sabalenka smashed another racket and was seen angrily reacting toward a cameraman before leaving the court.
The US Open has now reportedly punished the four-time Grand Slam champion for violating the tournament’s code of conduct. A fine of $7,500 was imposed, with the amount set to be deducted from her tournament earnings.
The penalty is understood to be at the higher end of the scale for racket abuse because of the repeated and particularly forceful nature of the incident. Reports say several other players were also fined during the tournament for various violations, with total penalties reaching $112,500.
Sabalenka later explained that the intensity of the moment made it difficult for her to control her emotions. She said she needed to release the frustration rather than keep everything bottled up after losing such an important Grand Slam final.
Despite her disappointment, Sabalenka acknowledged Rybakina’s performance and credited her opponent for producing the better tennis on the day. She particularly highlighted Rybakina’s powerful serve and aggressive style of play.
The defeat also brought an end to Sabalenka’s attempt to complete a US Open three-peat and resulted in her losing the world No. 1 ranking to Rybakina.
