After she won the U.S. Open, Coco Gauff thanked those who doubted her, making light work of her opponents during the tournament, much to the dismay of her “haters.” Aryna Sabalenka was on that list and took that message personally.
After taking the first set, Sabalenka lost to Gauff in straight sets, handing Gauff her biggest career win. But Sabalenka’s pride was not the only thing that took a beating that day. A poor, unfortunate tennis racket also lost a battle.
Post-match, Sabalenka beat her racket into submission, allowing the floor to do the work she could not do on the court.
Une pensée émue pour la pauvre raquette d'Aryna Sabalenka, battue en finale de l'#USOpen par Coco Gauff 🙏 pic.twitter.com/WJmA2TSUtW
— Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) September 10, 2023
Afterward, she promptly tossed it into the trash.
In a wild twist, Sabalenka is now ranked No. 1 worldwide after losing to Gauff. I can’t say I’ve ever seen a situation where it’s better to lose a major tournament than to win and beat a top-ten player.
Sending thoughts and good vibes to future rackets. May the odds be ever in their favor.
