Home ahoho ANDY RODDICK HAS FIRED BACK AT THE BACKLASH OVER ARYNA SABALENKA’S US OPEN MELTDOWN — AND HIS BLUNT “I DON’T CARE” RESPONSE COMES WITH A WARNING ABOUT THE DOUBLE STANDARD HE THINKS TENNIS FANS ARE IGNORING Sabalenka faced heavy criticism after smashing her racket following the final, but Roddick believes the reaction has gone too far. Rather than condemning her, the former US Open champion drew a sharp distinction between showing emotion after defeat and genuinely disrespecting an opponent — and his take on where that line should be drawn has reignited the debate.

ANDY RODDICK HAS FIRED BACK AT THE BACKLASH OVER ARYNA SABALENKA’S US OPEN MELTDOWN — AND HIS BLUNT “I DON’T CARE” RESPONSE COMES WITH A WARNING ABOUT THE DOUBLE STANDARD HE THINKS TENNIS FANS ARE IGNORING Sabalenka faced heavy criticism after smashing her racket following the final, but Roddick believes the reaction has gone too far. Rather than condemning her, the former US Open champion drew a sharp distinction between showing emotion after defeat and genuinely disrespecting an opponent — and his take on where that line should be drawn has reignited the debate.

ahoho · 16/09/2026 · comments off

Aryna Sabalenka has come under fire for her actions after US Open final.

Upon losing the showpiece event to Elena Rybakina, Sabalenka threw her racket to the ground.

Sabalenka then congratulated her opponent before sitting on her bench.

The Belarusian proceeded to smash her racket onto the court.

What does Aryna Sabalenka need to change to start winning Grand Slams again?

She just lost the US Open final to Elena Rybakina…

This behaviour has drawn criticism from fans and pundits alike, including Chanda Rubin, who described Sabalenka’s actions as ‘not a good look’.

Andy Roddick, the 2003 US Open champion, has stepped into to defend the former world number one.

Andy Roddick defends Aryna Sabalenka from critics

“People are often looking for a reason to just be upset about something and to go Twitter finger their account. I just think that they are going to look for something,” Roddick, the former world number one, said on the Served Podcast.

Andy Roddick pictured during US Open fan week.
Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images

“I am not going to get mad at you if you break your own stuff. I don’t care as long as you are gracious,” he exclaimed.

“Could she do it after? Yeah, sure. Am I going to be personally offended that she broke her own thing? No.

“She has been salty in defeat before,” Roddick continued, referring to Sabalenka’s controversial comments after losing the 2025 Roland Garros final to Coco Gauff.

“But I do think there is a double standard. If someone walks off after losing the NBA Finals, they get criticised saying they are too happy, they are dapping up the people they lost to. No it’s like ‘they broke stuff’.

Aryna Sabalenka lifts her racket
Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images

“It’s like what do you want?

“It’s like whatever, just let people live. The mistake she has made before is being made disrespectful and taking credit away from your opponent in a public fashion, but I don’t care what you say to your team.

“As long as there is a base level of respect for who you have played and what you have done and what they’ve done, if you break a racket, who cares?

“I can’t imagine being an adult seeing that and then going to a social media account and being like ‘I can’t believe she broke a racket’.

“Come on, what are we doing!”

Aryna Sabalenka’s 2026 WTA Tour tournament results

  • Brisbane International: CHAMPION
  • Australian Open: runner-up
  • Indian Wells: CHAMPION
  • Miami Open: CHAMPION
  • Madrid Open: quarter-finals
  • Italian Open: round of 32
  • Roland Garros: quarter-finals
  • Berlin Open: semi-finals
  • Wimbledon: fourth round
  • Canadian Open: fourth round
  • Cincinnati Open: fourth round
  • US Open: runner-up

Roddick is absolutely correct in his assessment.

As tennis fans, we cannot expect players to act like robots devoid of emotion. These are human beings who need to express their frustrations from time to time.

Sabalenka had just lost a Grand Slam final in brutal circumstances; her reaction was completely understandable.

The Belarusian did not show any outward disrespect to her opponent, she merely let out the frustration that was building up inside her.

Aryna Sabalenka almost equals Venus Williams’ unfortunate record

In 2017, tennis legend Venus Williams won 20 matches at Grand Slams without winning a major title.

According to OptaAce, only Venus has won more Women’s Singles Grand Slam matches than Aryna Sabalenka in 2026 without winning a major title.

Sabalenka has won 19 matches at Grand Slams this year, yet she has been unable to win a major.

Tournament Result Opponent
Australian Open Runner-up Elena Rybakina
Roland Garros Quarter-finals Diana Shnaider
Wimbledon Fourth round Naomi Osaka
US Open Runner-up Elena Rybakina
Aryna Sabalenka’s Grand Slam results in 2026

Sabalenka will hope to bounce back emphatically when she begins her 2027 Grand Slam campaign next January in Melbourne.

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