"Don't want to see you for the next week, I hate you" - Emotional Aryna Sabalenka pokes fun at team after heartbreaking Australian Open defeat

Aryna Sabalenka poked fun at her team following her heartbreaking defeat to Madison Keys in the Australian Open final. In what turned out to be one of the most thrilling Grand Slam finals in recent times, the American overcame the former two-time defending champion in a three-set thriller.

Sabalenka came into the Australian Open as the heavy favorite, being the top seed and the two-time defending champion. However, she was up against a very confident Keys, who defeated the likes of Elena Rybakina and Iga Swiatek to reach her second Grand Slam final. It was the 19th seed who came out guns blazing to take the lead but the Belarusian leveled the score after finally finding her rhythm.

There can only be one champion, and after two hours and two minutes of power-packed tennis, it was Madison Keys who ended Sabalenka's reign in Melbourne by winning 6-3, 2-6, 7-5.

During her runner-up speech, Aryna Sabalenka decided to poke fun at her team, which consisted of Anton Dubrov, Jason Stacy, and Andrei Vasilevski. The Belarusian's boyfriend Georgios Frangulis was also in attendance, cheering her on.

"Should I say anything to my team? Why are you laughing? As always, that's your fault, guys. No. I, I don't want to see you for the next week. I really hate you," Sabalenka said.

The World No. 1 admitted that she gave it her all but Madison Keys was the better player on the day and later conveyed her love for her team.

"No, anyway, thank you so much for everything you're doing for me and blah blah blah. No, I think, I think we did our best. Just Madison was playing incredible. I really, I couldn't do anything in this match. And next time I play against Madison, I'll bring better tennis.And of course, sending, sending a lot to my team. Anyway, I love you, even though we lost," the World No. 1 added.

Madison Keys snapped Aryna Sabalenka's 20-match win streak in hard-court Majors

Aryna Sabalenka and Madison Keys - Source: Getty

Aryna Sabalenka was on a 20-match win streak in hard-court Majors following her wins at both the Australian Open and the US Open last year. She made it to the final in 2025 and looked to extend her streak to 21 wins but Madison Keys delivered her career-best performance to clinch her maiden Grand Slam title.

The Belarusian has reached the last five hard-court Grand Slam finals and won three. Interestingly, her other defeat, which came at the 2023 US Open, was to another American in Coco Gauff, who also won the first Major of her career.