It’s not easy to lose with grace. U.S. Open runner-up Aryna Sabalenka would know a thing or two about that.
Sabalenka failed to complete her ambitious U.S. Open three-peat at Flushing Meadows this year, faltering in three sets (4-6, 7-5, 2-6) against tennis’s newly crowned queen Elena Rybakina, who ultimately proved to be the better player having stolen Sabalenka’s world No. 1 ranking in her match prior. After Sabalenka shook hands with her rival at the net, she was seen smashing her racket onto the court on her bench in a heated moment of frustration. She has since been fined $7,500 by the USTA for violating the following code from the Grand Slam rulebook: “Players shall not violently or with anger hit, kick or throw a racquet or other equipment within the precincts of the tournament site.”
