Aryna Sabalenka is a great ambassador for our sport and a supreme champion.
However, this year, she has struggled to maintain her usual dominance over the WTA Tour and has subsequently slipped from the world number one spot, having not won a single major all year.
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The Belarusian did reach the US Open final, but was well beaten by Elena Rybakina over three sets.
It was not her conduct during the match that has drawn attention though, but what she did after.
Sabalenka has been criticised for smashing a racket immediately after the championship point had been converted, and looking downcast during the final game of the clash.
All the fanfare that has emerged following this showdown has many recalling her 2025 Roland Garros final, where she lost to Coco Gauff and did not react well.
Despite taking the first set in that French Open final, it was clear that the American was dealing with the swirling conditions that were brewing inside Philippe Chatrier.
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And, as the wind grew, so too did Gauff in stature.
Her high, looping balls, combined with a wide variety of shots left Aryna Sabalenka missing long, wide and into the net often, and afterwards in her press conference she admitted: “It was honestly the worst tennis I’ve played in I don’t know how many months.
“Conditions were terrible, and she simply was better in these conditions than me.
“I think I was overemotional, and I didn’t really handle myself well. I think she won the match not because she played incredible, just because I made all of those mistakes from, if you look from the outside, easy balls.”
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People were frustrated with the 28-year-old’s failure to credit Gauff, as she also added: “I cannot go out there every time against her in the finals of the Grand Slam and play such terrible tennis.
“It felt like a joke, honestly, like somebody from above was just there laughing saying, ‘let’s see if you can handle this’.”
Sabalenka did apologise quickly afterwards, and the two were back making fun of the situation by the time Wimbledon came around.
Speaking afterwards, Chris Evert was one of many stunned pundits who could not believe what they had heard from the (now former) world number one.
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The American took particular issue with it and admitted: “When you heard Aryna say it was the worst [final], I was like wow!
“You have to adjust. It’s the same on both sides. You have to make that adjustment. If you are number one in the world or number two in the world, you should know how to play on windy days by now.
“It was swirling. Well, you know what, then you really have to get ready and prepared for the shot quicker and you have to be aware of that and make the court smaller and not go for the lines all the time if it’s that windy.
“It was the same for both of them and I think Coco really adapted to it much better.”
