The US Open’s official on-site fines summary confirms Aryna Sabalenka picked up a $7,500 penalty from her final defeat to Elena Rybakina, tied to the code violation she received for ball abuse after smashing a shot into the stands during the match. This was one of 20 fines given throughout the tournament, amounting to $112,500, for violations such as coaching, racket abuse and unsportsmanlike conduct.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
Sabalenka’s frustration was on display for more than one moment. She lost the final 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 and broke her racket on the ground and cursed a cameraman who had come close to her box. She later defended the outburst in her press conference.
“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,” she said. “I just wanted to let it go, because if I would hold it inside, right now over here or over there on the court, I wouldn’t be able to say a word.”
Notably missing from the list are Venus and Serena Williams, who had their own incident with a possible violation earlier in the tournament. The sisters had skipped their mandatory press conference after losing their first-round doubles match to Maya Joint and Hao-Ching Chan in three sets, squandering a 5-0 lead in the deciding tiebreak.
Under the rules of Grand Slam, there is a fine for failing to attend a presser, but at the time, the USTA made clear that neither sister would receive the penalty for their no-show, which sparked its own set of criticism from fans that the rules were being interpreted differently.
This is a developing story…