Key Takeaways
- Aryna Sabalenka suffered a heartbreaking three-set defeat against Elena Rybakina in the US Open final.
- Following the match, the Belarusian appeared to tell a cameraman to “f*** off” while motioning for him to move away.
- The world number one fell short of claiming a third Flushing Meadows title after losing 4-6, 7-5, 2-6.
Tensions boil over following Flushing Meadows final
The emotional weight of defeat was visibly immense for Aryna Sabalenka following the US Open women’s final. After battling through a fiercely contested championship clash against Elena Rybakina, the world number one saw her quest for a third title at Flushing Meadows slip away.
Shortly after the conclusion of the match, the Belarusian was filmed seated alongside her coaching team in a quiet corner, clearly attempting to decompress and regain her composure. However, as she tried to process the painful outcome, the lingering presence of a broadcast lens proved too intrusive. In footage that quickly surfaced and spread across social media, Sabalenka appeared to tell an approaching cameraman to “f*** off” while motioning for him to move away from the private team area.
A heated reaction amid heartbreak
The exchange highlighted the raw vulnerability and disappointment players experience immediately following major finals. Sabalenka, who holds 8,575 points at the summit of the women’s game, had just endured a grueling three-set battle on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The camera kept rolling during her moments of decompression, which clearly irritated the top seed. While the intense heat-of-the-moment reaction swiftly triggered reactions online, it served as a stark reminder of the heavy toll of Grand Slam finals and the fine boundary between broadcast coverage and a competitor’s need for privacy immediately after high-stakes heartbreak.
US Open women’s singles final result
| Player | Seed | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aryna Sabalenka | 1 | 4 | 7 | 2 |
| Elena Rybakina | 2 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
— News Aryna Sabalenka (@Sabanewsss) September 12, 2026
Aryna Sabalenka in 2026
Ranked world no.1, Aryna played her last match on the 12th of September when she was overcome by world no.2 Elena Rybakina 6-4 5-7 6-2 in the final of the U.S. Open (draw).
Presently, during this year Aryna has achieved a compiled 46-9 match record. Aryna clinched 3 titles in 2026 in Brisbane, Indian Wells and Miami.
