Aryna Sabalenka, the reigning world No.1 in women’s tennis, has opened up about her devastating loss at the Australian Open final this year. The star player, who was on track for an unprecedented three-peat following successive victories in 2023 and 2024, conceded that the defeat to Madison Keys was a bitter pill to swallow. The intense final saw Keys triumph 6-3 2-6 7-5, abruptly derailing Sabalenka’s plans for a historic third consecutive win.
The aftermath of the match saw Sabalenka exit the court in a fit of rage and disappointment, bypassing the trophy ceremony entirely. The loss was visibly hard on her; she smashed her racket and retreated under a towel before leaving the arena. Since that disheartening defeat, Sabalenka’s performance in the subsequent tournaments has been less than stellar, with a 1-2 record across two games in Doha and Dubai.
When asked if the loss to Keys was the toughest she’d ever experienced, Sabalenka admitted, “I had some tough losses in the past, but that one was tough to accept, to be honest. It took me, like, a week and maybe a little bit longer than that to stop thinking and to finally move on.” Drawing on her resilience, the three-time Grand Slam champion sees the defeat as a learning experience and a catalyst for future success.
Despite the recent setbacks, Sabalenka remains resolute. She believes that the sting of the loss fuels her determination to work harder and perform better in the future. “This kind of disappointing losses always motivate me to keep working hard. And yeah, that was a tough one, but I think it’s behind me,” the 26-year-old expressed. She is looking forward to the opportunity of reclaiming her glory, stating, “Now I’m ready to get that revenge back if I’ll have a chance.”
As Sabalenka gears up for the Indian Wells tournament, she has been granted a first-round bye and will face either McCartney Kessler or Anna Blinkova in the second round. She has fond memories of the desert tournament, having come close to capturing the title in 2023, only to finish as runner-up to Elena Rybakina in the final. With her eyes set firmly on the prize, Sabalenka is ready to turn the page on her Australian Open loss and make a triumphant return to form in Indian Wells.