ANGRY Aryna Sabalenka smashed her racquet as she missed out on an Australian Open hat-trick. American Madison Keys became a major winner for the first time with a 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 victory in Melbourne. The Belarussian world No.1 – champion Down Under in 2023 and 2024 – destroyed her equipment in a moment of rage as Keys cried with her family and friends on the Rod Laver Arena.
![[Aryna Sabalenka smashing her tennis racket after a defeat.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/aryna-sabalenka-smashes-racket-defeat-966516090.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Sabalenka, 26, said: “I’ll come back stronger and do my best next year. “I did my best but Madison was incredible. I couldn’t do anything in this match. Next time we play, I’ll bring better tennis. “Madison, wow, what a tournament, you have been fighting really hard to get this trophy.”.
![[Aryna Sabalenka smashing her racket after a tennis match defeat.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/aryna-sabalenka-smashes-racket-defeat-966516085.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Keys – who beat world No.2 Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals – is coached by her husband and had to contend with a nasty hamstring injury last summer. The Floridan, 29, received a cheque for £1.8MILLION, had tape on her left thigh as she made amends for losing to fellow Yank Sloane Stephens in the 2017 US Open final.
![[Aryna Sabalenka throws her broken tennis racket after losing a match.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/aryna-sabalenka-throws-smashed-racket-966516153.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
She said: “I’m glad I finally got Aryna back. We have the craziest matches. “To win my first Grand Slam here means the absolute world to me. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS. “I have wanted this for so long. My other final didn’t go my way – I didn’t know if I would ever get back to this position.
![[Aryna Sabalenka sits dejected, covered by a towel, after a tennis match.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-belarus-aryna-sabalenka-looks-966516159.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
