MELBOURNE, Australia — Aryna Sabalenka had fallen just short of winning a third straight Australian Open title, but it hadn’t affected her standing with the adoring Melbourne crowd.
When the two-time champion took the on-court microphone after losing Saturday’s final to Madison Keys, she was greeted with rapturous applause. Fans laughed along as Sabalenka eschewed the tradition of thanking her team, instead joking about her three-set defeat being their fault. It was a typically entertaining speech, delivered immediately after Sabalenka had smashed her racket in frustration before briefly leaving Rod Laver Arena to compose herself.
Advertisement
Sabalenka, 26, has three Grand Slam titles. At the last two majors, she won the U.S.
→ Continue reading at The New York Times Sports
