Aryna Sabalenka acknowledged that losing a couple of major finals in 2025 wasn't the best thing that could have happened before funnily adding that she would do a thorough analysis while sipping on tequila in the Maldives.
After losing to Caroline Garcia in her maiden WTA Finals final in 2022, Sabalenka had a chance to make amends this past Saturday and become a champion at the prestigious season-ending tournament. Sadly for the top-ranked Belarusian, she fell just short once again after Elena Rybakina defeated her 6-3 7-6 (0) in the Riyadh final.
“She played incredible. I feel like I did my best today. It didn’t work, but I think there are so many things I have to be proud of. I’m leaving this tournament without any disappointment. I leave being proud of myself and the things that we’ve been able to achieve," the world No. 1 said afterward in the press.
Sabalenka: I'll analyze my losses and behavior with a tequila in the Maldives
Sabalenka's 2025 season started with a heartbreak when she lost to Madison Keys in a thriller Australian Open final. In early June, the 27-year-old suffered another brutal defeat when she lost the French Open final to Coco Gauff from a set up. At Wimbledon, the Belarusian came close to making her first final, but then lost to Amanda Anisimova in the semifinal.
“The good thing is that I’m always there. The bad thing this season is that I lost most of the biggest finals I made. So I guess I’ll just sit back in the Maldives having my probably tequila and think back and try to analyze my behavior, my emotions," the 27-year-old added.
When Sabalenka arrived in New York for the US Open, she underlined that she didn't want to finish the year without a Grand Slam title. And she ensured that by making it all the way at Flushing Meadows.
Sabalenka will enter the 2026 season as a four-time Grand Slam champion and the world No. 1.
