Aryna Sabalenka is not beating the sore loser allegations.
The women’s tennis star Sabalenka played Saturday in the U.S. Open final against Elena Rybakina. In the end, it was Rybakina who earned the upset victory, winning 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 and formally dethroning Sabalenka as the world No. 1-ranked women’s singles player.
After Sabalenka’s defeat, she got testy with a cameraman who had arrived to film her. Sabalenka was seen saying “F–k off” to the cameraman and waving her hand in a shooing motion.
— News Aryna Sabalenka (@Sabanewsss) September 12, 2026
The 28-year-old Sabalenka was also caught on camera after the match destroying her racket while Rybakina celebrated her major victory.
Aryna Sabalenka destruyó su raqueta tras perder la final del US Open. pic.twitter.com/pBwbhadA3y
— Tiempo De Tenis (@Tiempodetenis1) September 12, 2026
Sabalenka is a four-time major champion who already won the U.S. Open in both 2024 and 2025. But she has also developed a reputation for poor sportsmanship when things do not go her way.
Last year, Sabalenka was criticized for seemingly discrediting Coco Gauff after Gauff beat her in the French Open and then also got petty during her loss to Amanda Anisimova at Wimbledon. Sabalenka even made headlines during this year’s U.S. Open for complaining about the smell of marijuana during an earlier match.
