Sabalenka Smashed Racket, Dropped F-Bomb After US Open Loss

Aryna Sabalenka's bid for a US Open three-peat ended with a loss—and an expletive. After Elena Rybakina beat her in three sets in Saturday's final, Sabalenka sat with her team as a camera followed, then appeared to look up, react in irritation, and tell the camera operator to "f–k off," video that the New York Post reports quickly ricocheted across social media. The visible outburst followed an earlier racket smash on the bench and a tense third set in which Sabalenka's frustration showed.

Sabalenka later told reporters that losing while chasing a third straight title made it "really tough to control your emotions" and that she needed to "let all of that aggression and disappointment go." Rybakina, who also beat her in this year's Australian Open final, was going to leave New York with the women's No. 1 ranking no matter the outcome of Saturday's match, notes the AP. (Sabalenka also had plenty to say about the smell of weed at the tournament.)