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Podcast heats up as former Tennis stars clash over Aryna Sabalenka’s racquet smash

Aryna Sabalenka lost her Australian Open title to Madison Keys and smashed her tennis racquet. This behaviour has now become a debate between two tennis stars.

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Venkatakrishnan
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WTA star Aryna Sabalenka Raquet Smash after losing Australian Open 2025 Finals against Madison Keys

Aryna Sabalenka Raquet Smash Photograph: (X)

WTA Tennis No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka was shocked when she lost her most successful Australian Open Grand Slam to Madison Keys in the finals. The Belarusian tennis player won the Australian Open title for two consecutive years in 2023 and 2024. She was on the verge of becoming a three-time Australian Open winner. But America’s Madison Keys ended her dream by defeating Sabelenka 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in straight sets at the Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne.

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After losing the game, Aryna was angry and frustrated with herself for letting the game slip away from her hands in the third and final set. She smashed her racquet onto the ground and sat on her bench covering her face and cried. She then went into the medical room while Madison Keys celebrated her win. Tennis is a hard game to play and the frustration of losing a finals puts players in immense pain even many greats like Serena Williams, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic have smashed their racquets out of anger. 

After the game, many Tennis players and fans slammed Sabalenka for her behaviour after losing the Australian Open. But many saw that as normal behaviour and an outpour of emotions after a hard-fought defeat. But this matter has become a debate in a Podcast of former tennis player Rennae Stubbs.

Aryna Sabalenka's Racquet Smash became a debate.

Rennae Stubbs and Andrea Petkovic had a heated moment over Aryna Sabelanka's Raquet Smash at the Australian Open finals
Rennae Stubbs Andrea Petkovic Photograph: (Instagram)

 In her latest podcast, she invited another tennis star Andrea Petkovic and spoke about the 2025 Australian Open Tournament. In that, Stubbs gave her view of Sabalenka smashing the racquet. She said “I think the reason why Sabalenka lost her mind after the match, which was not a good look, was that she thought the return was out (during the game).

When you see her reaction to her box, she says she thought the return was out which was why she lost her mind. But that was not a good look for her and breaking the racquet was not a good look for her. She is such a good loser normally, she is normally so gracious and she was gracious in the speech, but if there was one moment she would want to take it back. It’s like you can't take that moment away from Madison.”

Petkovic countered and came in for Aryna’s defence saying “This is my argument for Sabelnka. You live and you die by the sword that you swing and if we love Sabalenka for the emotions that she displays we have to take the bad emotions with it. We can’t have all the funny dances and the warriors in her without having the other part of it as well.”

Checkout: In pictures: Aryna Sabalenka escapes tennis court, takes an 'ideal break'

Tennis Aryna Sabalenka Australian Open WTA Madison Keys
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