"That was not a good look for her": Rennae Stubbs highlights reason behind Aryna Sabalenka's outburst at Australian Open final

Ex-coach of the former world number one Serena Williams, Rennae Stubbs, has highlighted the reason behind Aryna Sabalenka’s outburst after suffering defeat in the final of the Australian Open. The 27-year-old, who is regarded as one of the best player currently playing in women’s tennis, along with the likes of Poland’s Iga Swiatek, had a rough outing in the final of the first Grand Slam of the year against Madison Keys.

Sabalenka, who came into the mega-event as the favourite as she was defending her title for the second consecutive year, ended up on the losing side in the encounter with a score of 6-3, 2-6, 7-5. It was her first defeat in Melbourne in three years.

After the final, Sabalenka looked frustrated and broke her racquet. An ex-coach of former world number one Serena, Stubbs, has been recently quoted in a report in which she gave her opinion about what forced the three-time Grand Slam winner to react in such a manner after a defeat. Stubbs was of the opinion that Sabalenka was frustrated because of her poor return, which ended up costing her the match and the title.

“I think the reason why Sabalenka lost her mind after the match, which was not a good look, was that she thought the return was out [during the final game],” she said. “When you see her reaction to her box, she basically says she thought the return was out which was why she lost her mind. But that was not a good look for her and breaking the racket was really not a good look for her. She is such a good loser normally, she is normally so gracious and she was gracious in the speech, but if there was one moment she would want to take back – it’s like you can’t take that moment away from Madison.”