Aryna Sabalenka’s ‘disrespectful’ act called out amid Australian Open final defeat to Madison Keys

Aryna Sabalenka’s actions have been condemned by a tenns great after a dramatic Australian Open final on Saturday night.

Madison Keys produced the performance of her life to dethrone two-time defending Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-3 2-6 7-5.

But the World No.1’s actions during and after the final have come under intense scrutiny, as she was called out for bad sportsmanship.

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Sabalenka was on the brink of making Australian Open history with a third straight triumph on Rod Laver Arena.

But it wasn’t to be as the 19th seed American won her maiden grand slam crown.

In the immediate aftermath, a distraught Sabalenka gave Keys a lukewarm embrace at the net before taking her anger out on her racquet and storming off court.

The runner-up is expected to stay on the court for the trophy presentation, where they will do a speech.

Aryna Sabalenka smashed her racquet in frustration after losing the Australian Open final. Picture: Michael Klein

Sabalenka confessed she was frustrated because she was “so close to achieving something crazy” and threw the racquet to release some of that emotion.

“When you’re out there, you’re fighting, but it seems like everything’s not going the way you really want it to go,” she told a post-match press conference.

“I just needed to throw those negative emotions at the end just so I could give a speech, not stand there being disrespectful. I was just trying to let it go and be a good person.”

As for walking off the court before the presentation, Sabalenka defended the move as a way to get back in the right headspace to continue.

“I just needed that time for myself to kind of like switch off and forget and leave it in the past and be respectful,” she said.

“I was standing there and just was like, ‘OK, come on, you’ve been in her position. She deserves that. She was better player than you.’ Just, you know, it was tough.”

Aryna Sabalenka has been called out for taking away from Madison Keys' moment. Image: Stan

Sabalenka did come back on court for the presentation, congratulating Keys in her speech.

But former British No 1 Jo Durie slammed the Belarussian’s actions saying her dummy spit detracted from Keys’ big moment.

“It’s a shame she did that,” Durie said on Eurosport.

“I know that she is going for a third title and emotions are running high. But it does rather take away from the moment for Madison.”

And between her post-match dummy spit and louder screaming than usual while hitting the ball, many fans were unimpressed by the World No. 1’s sportsmanship.

USA's Madison Keys shocked the world by beating Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open final (Photo by Martin KEEP / AFP)

“Sabalenka is a great tennis player but it really is hard to watch with her screaming on every hit. Turned it off last game after 2 sets. The sound varies so it’s definitely on purpose to try & distract opponents. Surely world tennis can do something about it! It’s ridiculous,” one fan wrote on X.

“Madison Keys deserved that win AND she deserved more respect from Sabalenka. This was VERY poor sportsmanship,” another said on X.

“Sabalenka, a great tennis player, is absolutely classless. Period. She should be held to the same standard in upholding sportsmanship, graciousness to her team, and decorum on the court as everyone else is,” a third commented.

“But the media gives her a pass because … ‘jokes’, ‘humor’, ‘funny personality’. Yeah, bulls**t. She has established a several year trend of being a demonstrative sore loser. Let’s call a spade a spade. Great player? Yes. Gracious runner up? Hell no.”

Originally published as Aryna Sabalenka’s ‘disrespectful’ act called out amid Australian Open final defeat to Madison Keys