Aryna Sabalenka has been fined, and this should not come as a surprise since a lot of tennis players are punished for the on court voilation. She has been fined $7,500 by the United States Tennis Association for code violations involving racket and ball abuse during and after her loss in the 2026 US Open women’s singles final.
The Belarusian, the two-time defending champion and then World No. 1, fell 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan on 12 September at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The result handed Rybakina her first US Open title and third Grand Slam overall, while also confirming her rise to world No. 1.
No. 2 Sabalenka fined $7,500 for racket abuse after US Open final defeat to No. 1 Rybakina
Sabalenka received a code violation early in the match after sending a ball into the crowd following a break of serve. Her frustration continued later when she struck another ball towards the back of the court, narrowly missing a cameraman. After the final point, she smashed her racket several times at her courtside bench before the trophy presentation.
The defeat ended Sabalenka’s 20-match winning streak at Flushing Meadows and left her without a Grand Slam title in 2026, after she had also lost the Australian Open final to Rybakina earlier in the year. Despite reaching the New York final without dropping a set before the championship match, the Belarusian’s season concluded on a frustrating note.
While her three-peat dream was over, Sabalenka was also seen cursing at a TV cameraman, which went viral on the internet. The player was seen sitting on the bench with her boyfriend, Georgios Frangulis, while the TV camera zoomed in on her, and she was caught cursing. This later drew a lot of criticism.
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