World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka angrily smashed her racket after losing her Australian Open crown to an unexpected challenger, 19th seed Madison Keys, and then explained that she had needed to clear her head before making the traditional runner-up speech.
While Keys’s belated capture of a maiden major title made for a heart-warming story, much of the post-match debate surrounded Sabalenka and her furious response.
When asked about her immediate reaction, which also found her leaving the court briefly, Sabalenka said that she had needed a mental reset after a dramatic finale in which Keys slammed three spectacular forehand winners in the space of the last eight points.