Sabalenka unable to take the defeat: Smashes her racket after hugging Rybakina
NEW YORK: Kazakhstan’s world No. 2 Elena Rybakina defeated Belarusian world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in a women’s singles final that lasted two hours and 21 minutes on Saturday to win the US Open tennis championship for the first time. Rybakina had already won the Australian Open title earlier this year and Wimbledon in 2022. She had been ranked No. 2 in the world, but from this week she will also take the world No. 1 ranking away from Sabalenka.
The 27-year-old Rybakina won her third Grand Slam title, while 28-year-old Sabalenka was denied the US Open title for the third consecutive year. Sabalenka also missed out on winning her fifth Grand Slam title. Not only that, Rybakina ended Sabalenka’s 19-match winning streak at the US Open.
Rybakina had also defeated Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in the Australian Open final in January. That tennis tournament was also played on a hard court.
Who received how much prize money?
Rybakina lifted the US Open trophy along with a record $5.5 million prize, worth approximately Rs 53 crore. It is the biggest individual cash prize in the history of Grand Slam tennis tournaments. Sabalenka received $2.8 million, approximately Rs 27 crore, along with the runner-up trophy.
Why could Sabalenka not take the defeat?
Sabalenka was angry with herself after missing out on becoming the third woman to win the US Open title for three consecutive years. During the match, she had earlier thrown a ball into the stands after losing a game, and the ball hit a camera. The umpire warned Sabalenka for the incident. After hugging winner Rybakina following the match, Sabalenka sat in her place and then smashed her racket against the ground, breaking it. Earlier in the match too, she had slammed her racket onto the tennis court in frustration.
Sabalenka could face a fine of Rs 67 lakh
Sabalenka damaged her racket twice. After the match, she smashed her racket and broke it, then picked up a piece that had flown nearby and put it in her bag. She had also thrown a ball into the stands. For all these acts of misconduct, Sabalenka could be fined $77,000, approximately Rs 67 lakh.
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