US Open: Aryna Sabalenka loses it after final loss

The above series of screengrabs show an angry Aryna Sabalenka smashing her racquet after her final defeat

After being denied the historic opportunity to complete a historic three-peat at the US Open, Aryna Sabalenka smashed her racquet on the court as Elena Rybakina celebrated her 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 victory just feet away.

After Rybakina secured the championship-winning point, the broadcast camera followed her as she acknowledged the crowd before cutting to Sabalenka, sitting on the bench and smashing her racket on the court and tossing it to the side.

Later, Sabalenka also yelled at a cameraperson who was trying to capture her emotions after the defeat.

In capturing the crown here, Rybakian not only prevented Sabalenka from "three-peating" at consecutive US Opens. But when Rybakina ascends to World No. 1 on Monday, she'll be wresting the top spot from Sabalenka, who's had the No. 1 next to her name for 99 consecutive weeks.

"I just wanted to let all of that aggression and disappointment go outside [on the court]," Sabalenka said. "It's really tough to control your emotions when you lose in the final of the Grand Slam and when you were trying to go for [a] three-peat, so I just wanted to let it go."

Sabalenka said she would not have been nice had she not expressed her frustrations. Mere minutes after the trophy ceremony, the 28-year-old from Belarus was complementary of Rybakina but also still kicking herself for not living up to her own lofty expectations.

"I wish I could perform a little bit better, but I guess next year," Sabalenka said.

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