‘She was better’: Sabalenka offers praise as reality of loss sinks in
“Let’s hope maybe next year is going to be a better year for me.”
For a player that made the final Saturday in Melbourne for a fourth consecutive Australian Open, Aryna Sabalenka’s post-match download, on the surface, could sound a little harsh.
But it was the thought that was top of mind for the top seed, as the reality of finishing runner-up at Rod Laver Arena for a second successive year began to sink in.
“I think overall I played great tennis here in Australia,” Sabalenka reflected on her AO 2026 run after Elena Rybakina denied her a third Australian Open title in a gripping three-set final.
“Even in this final I feel like I played great. I was fighting. I did my best, and today she was a better player.”
Sabalenka could have hardly arrived at Saturday’s final in more formidable form. Over the 14 days of the main draw, she ploughed through each match without dropping a set.
Sabalenka and Rybakina were the first pair to face each other in a women’s singles Grand Slam final with nether having dropped a set en route since Wimbledon 2008, and the first at the Australian Open in 22 years.
Following last year’s Australian Open final loss to Madison Keys, the 27-year-old made it her mission to work on her mental game to keep a tighter leash on her emotions, and stay more in control.
The rest of last season was a testament to her efforts.
The 2025 season saw the ‘tiger’ – as her fans so fondly dub her due to the tiger tattoo etched on her forearm – add another four singles titles to her name: the US Open, Madrid, Miami and Brisbane International.
For Sabalenka, each match is a fresh opportunity to play; she doesn’t keep tabs on her own scorecard.
“I take each loss individually, because I feel like, I mean, obviously it was different players almost every time and different problems that I was facing during the match, different mistakes,” she said.
“Some of them were great matches, I played incredible. So I guess I take it individually.”
While Sabalenka didn’t get to hoist the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup this time around, her optimism in the aftermath is another nod to the work she’s done towards her mental strength and resilience.
“You know, today you’re loser; tomorrow you’re winner. Hopefully I’ll be more of a winner this season than a loser. Hoping right now and praying,” she laughed.
AO 2026 was Sabalenka’s eighth career Grand Slam final, and her fourth consecutive appearance in the Australian Open final; as only the third player in the Open Era to do this, this is a feat in itself.
But it a night that ended with her searching for silver linings.
“I feel like overall [the match] was much better than last [year’s] two finals I lost,” she said, referencing her defeat in the final at Roland Garros after her loss to Keys in Australia.
“Level-wise and decision that I was making and the way that the mentality was throughout the whole match that I was still there, I was ready to fight, I knew that she’s not going to give it easily to me.
“So, I think overall I made huge improvement on that, and I still lost it. But it’s okay. I feel like I’m moving towards the right direction.”
Looking ahead to the rest of her 2026 season and beyond, Sabalenka shows no signs of slowing down.
“[My] ambitions are still the same. Keep fighting, keep working hard, keep putting myself out there, and try my best if I’ll have another chance in the final,” she said.
“Just go out there and do my best. Then just try the same, you know? Try to see how many of [titles] I can get.”
‘Incredibly difficult to recover from’: World No.1 left in tears by more Aus Open final heartbreak
For two straight years, Aryna Sabalenka only knew joy after an Australian Open final.
Now, for two straight years, she has only known pain.
The world No.1 suffered a second consecutive upset loss in the Melbourne Park decider when beaten by Elena Rybakina 6-4 4-6 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena.
Sabalenka was up 3-0 in the final set but dropped five consecutive games to lose the championship.
While she showed great sportsmanship to immediately congratulate Rybakina, the Belarusian then cut a heartbroken figure, sitting on her bench with a towel covering her head before tearily peering out from underneath.
“This one is going to be incredibly difficult to recover mentally from for Sabalenka,” Alicia Molik said on Nine.
She was able to maintain her composure better than in 2025, when she lost to Madison Keys, smashing her racquet and storming off court before returning for the trophy ceremony.
Sabalenka remained on court and gave an emotional speech which still contained the humour which reflects her bright personality.
“Honestly guys, I’m really speechless right now,” she said after accepting the runners-up trophy.
“I’ll try not to forget anything. I want to start with Elena. I want to congratulate you on an incredible run. Incredible achievement.
“Thank you everyone who made this tournament possible. I love being here. I love playing in front of you all. You guys are incredible support.
“I’m always looking forward to come and play in front of you and well, let’s hope next year is maybe gonna be a better year for me.
“Thank you to my team for always being there, for enjoying me losing finals, but also sometimes we win them. So let’s hope for the best.
“Let’s hope that next year Daphne (the women’s champion trophy) is going to be ours, right?”
Sabalenka has now made four of the last five slam finals, but only won one of them.
