Aryna Sabalenka says how long it took to her to get over losing the Australian Open final to Madison Keys’

Aryna Sabalenka Reflects on Australian Open Heartbreak Ahead of Qatar Open

Aryna Sabalenka has admitted that it took her at least a week to recover from her heartbreaking loss in the Australian Open final against Madison Keys.

Sabalenka, the world No. 1, was aiming to become the first woman since Martina Hingis in 1999 to win three consecutive Australian Open titles. She entered the final as the favorite, having dropped just one set throughout the tournament.

However, Keys delivered a career-best performance, clinching a 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 victory and ending Sabalenka’s 20-match win streak in Melbourne.

Sabalenka on Her Recovery from the Loss

Sabalenka didn’t hide her frustration after the defeat, smashing her racket before storming off court. Reflecting on the loss, she acknowledged that it was tough to move on.

“This one was the toughest one. I think for a week I was still thinking about that match,” Sabalenka said ahead of her Qatar Open campaign.

“Honestly, looking back and thinking about those two lost games [in the final set], I didn’t do anything wrong. She just played out of her mind, and it was her day – there’s nothing to regret. I think right now I’m fully recovered after that tough match.”

Sabalenka Faces Alexandrova in Qatar Open Return

Now, Sabalenka turns her focus to the Qatar Open, where she will look to win the title for the first time since 2020.

Her opening match will be a challenging one against the in-form Ekaterina Alexandrova, who defeated Emma Raducanu in the first round, avenging her Australian Open loss to the Brit.

Sabalenka holds a 4-3 head-to-head lead over Alexandrova, with their most recent clash coming in the 2024 US Open, where Alexandrova was the only player to take a set off Sabalenka during her title run.

The Qatar Open top seed will need to be at her best as she looks to bounce back from her Melbourne heartbreak and make a deep run in Doha.