Aryna Sabalenka Admits Not 'Acting Like A B**ch' After Losses Took Time To Learn
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Aryna Sabalenka has developed into a humble champion and a great ambassador for tennis. However, the WTA world No. 1 admits she needed to learn how to be gracious immediately after defeats.
A fiery side to Sabalenka still exists, and it was seen after the recent 2025 Australian Open final. Madison Keys won a thrilling battle 7-5 in the third set to secure her maiden Grand Slam title.
Emotional after that narrow defeat, Sabalenka shouted toward her team once Keys sealed the victory, smashed a racket after shaking hands with the umpire, and went off the court for a few minutes before the trophy ceremony.
However, between shouting to her team and smashing the racket, Sabalenka composed herself enough to be gracious at the net and congratulate Keys, a popular player in the locker room, for her superb success.
Sabalenka probably would not have done that a few years ago. That moment was a sign of maturity. Although being upset after losing a Grand Slam final is entirely understandable, she still showed respect to her opponent.
The three-time Grand Slam champion spoke about that subject during a feature for Flaunt. Sabalenka acknowledges how badly she used to take losses and has gradually learned how to avoid being unpleasant to her opponents after matches.
"Most of the time I’m losing, learning how to lose is the hardest lesson. First, you’re not accepting the loss, and you’re acting like a b**ch. To learn how to lose and still be a good person and understand that this is just a moment... That’s hard. You know, I’m world number one, but I won four tournaments."
Despite Sabalenka warmly embracing Keys at the net after their Australian Open final, some still criticized her actions before and after that nice moment.
Jo Durie and Naomi Cavaday, who commentated on the match for Eurosport's viewers in Ireland and the United Kingdom, felt it took away from Keys' moment and meant the focus was on the Belarusian instead.
Although it would have been better if Sabalenka had not reacted at all, the criticism seems quite harsh. Losing a Grand Slam final narrowly in the deciding set is the most disappointing feeling a player can experience.
It seems clear that Sabalenka did not mean to distract from Keys' historic moment, as proven by their exchange at the net. Keys did not have any hard feelings after the match.
Sabalenka's first opportunity to respond to that tough loss will be at the 2025 Qatar Open. The world No. 1 skipped the tournament last year but has committed to playing at the tournament that begins on February 10th.
By contrast, Keys withdrew from the Qatar Open with a hamstring injury. She was also forced to withdraw from the ATX Open in Texas because of a controversial WTA rule about the number of Top 10 players at WTA 250 tournaments.
That means the Australian Open champion will have a quieter February than she would have anticipated at the start of the season.
