Aryna Sabalenka lost her composure in a dramatic meltdown during the Roland Garros final, hurling an expletive-laden outburst at her coach Anton Dubrov before ultimately surrendering to American Coco Gauff.
The world number one's emotions boiled over at a critical juncture. Leading 5:4 in the first set but failing to convert her initial opportunity to close out the frame, the Belarusian snapped when Dubrov attempted to offer guidance.
"Go f*ck off from here," Sabalenka shouted toward her coach's box, creating an uncomfortable moment that reverberated throughout the stadium.
This outburst proved costly. Gauff immediately capitalized on her opponent's rattled mental state, breaking Sabalenka's serve and forcing a tiebreaker. Though the 27-year-old Minsk native managed to claim the opening set with considerable difficulty, the psychological damage was already done.
The emotional toll became evident in the following sets. Sabalenka's game unraveled as unforced errors multiplied, and her frustration visibly mounted. Unable to regain her composure, she watched her Roland Garros championship hopes slip away against the steady American.
Interestingly, this marks the second Grand Slam final where Gauff has gotten the better of Sabalenka in two years, continuing a troubling pattern for the world's top-ranked player. Despite her lofty ranking, a Roland Garros title remains conspicuously absent from her trophy cabinet.
The defeat clearly stung deeply. During the award ceremony, Sabalenka couldn't contain her emotions, breaking down in tears before the Parisian crowd.
Worth noting, Sabalenka's temperament has raised eyebrows previously this season. During the Madrid tournament, she displayed questionable behavior in matches against Ukrainian players Elina Svitolina and Marta Kostyuk, particularly creating a scene while trailing Kostyuk in their quarterfinal encounter.
Can the talented but volatile Belarusian overcome these emotional hurdles to finally capture the elusive Roland Garros title? The tennis world will be watching closely.
