Sports

Roddick Defends Sabalenka After US Open Final Outburst

By Max Kilham

After losing the 2026 US Open final to Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka threw her racket to the ground, congratulated her opponent, sat on her bench, and smashed her racket onto the court. The incident drew criticism from fans and pundits, including former world No. 1 Chanda Rubin, who called the behaviour a "not a good look." Former US Open champion Andy Roddick defended Sabalenka on the Served Podcast, saying people often look for reasons to be upset and that he does not mind a player breaking equipment as long as they remain gracious. Roddick noted that Sabalenka had previously shown frustration after losing the 2025 Roland Garros final to Coco Gauff and that he sees a double standard in how such actions are judged. He added that players are human and should be allowed to express frustration. Sabalenka’s 2026 season includes a Brisbane International title, runner‑up finishes at the Australian Open and US Open, and championships at Indian Wells, Miami, and Madrid, but she has yet to win a Grand Slam title. She is expected to resume her Grand Slam campaign at the 2027 Australian Open in January.