Aryna Sabalenka has long been a dominant force at the top of women’s tennis, holding the world No. 1 ranking for a significant period. However, despite her success, she has yet to win universal admiration from tennis fans globally. Known for her vibrant personality and love of the game, Sabalenka is one of the most engaging figures in the sport. Yet, some critics argue that her intense, hard-hitting style of play doesn’t always appeal to the eye.
Her loud, forceful screams every time she strikes the ball have also been a point of contention, with some finding them off-putting. After a tough defeat in a thrilling Australian Open final against Madison Keys,Aryna Sabalenka faced criticism once again. Following her 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 loss to Keys, she was chastised for her reaction, particularly after smashing her racket in frustration. Former British No. 1 Jo Durie expressed her disappointment, suggesting that Sabalenka’s outburst detracted from the moment, saying, “It’s a shame she did that. I understand she was aiming for a third title and emotions were high, but it takes something away from Keys’ achievement.”
In the aftermath, Sabalenka reflected on her emotions, acknowledging the frustration of coming so close to a major win. “There was definitely a bit of frustration because I was so close to achieving something huge,” she explained. “I just needed to let go of those negative emotions so I could give my speech without being disrespectful. I wanted to move on and be a better person about it.”
She also expressed a determination to improve, saying, “I know that after tough losses come great victories. I’ll keep working and make sure that next time I’m in this situation, I’ll be better.” Despite the disappointment, she was able to maintain a sense of humor during her on-court speech, joking that she didn’t want to see her team for a week.
Even amid the defeat, Sabalenka found reasons to be proud of her performance. “I have to be proud of myself with three finals in a row,” she said. “That’s something incredible. I hope to come back next year as a better player and hold the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup again.”
Sabalenka continued to reflect on her achievements, saying, “It’s crazy that I was able to win so many matches in a row at one Grand Slam. When someone else accomplishes that in the future, they’ll be mentioning my name as the last player to do it. That’s already a big deal.”
Despite the setback, she remained focused on staying positive, finding pride in what she had accomplished. “I couldn’t even dream of this a few years ago,” she said. “To win so many matches in a row at one Slam is unbelievable.”