Aryna Sabalenka cut a frustrated figure during the Australian Open final as she lost in three sets to Madison Keys, before breaking down into tears and leaving the court

Sabalenka smashed her racket on the bench after Madison Keys prevented her from completing an Australian Open three-peat.

Steffi Graf (1988-90) and Monica Seles (1991-93) have also achieved the feat, but Sabalenka was quick not to overlook her upcoming clash with Badosa

Aryna Sabalenka has revealed she smashed her racquet in frustraion after losing the Australian Open final because she had been “so close close to achieving something crazy”. The world No.1 had been the red-hot favourite to join the greats in tennis history by completing a hat-tricks of title wins here.

Aryna Sabalenka was defeated by Madison Keys on Saturday in the Australian Open final falling 3-6, 6-2, 5-7 and took out her frustrations afterwards showing the toll of defeat as she smashed her racquet and stormed off before the ceremony.

The Australian Open women's singles final between Aryna Sabalenka and Madison Keys on Jan 25 looks well-poised. Read more at straitstimes.com.

The world No. 1 and three-time Grand Slam champion lags behind her contemporaries in endorsements despite standing atop her sport

Aryna Sabalenka has come up one match shy in her bid for a third consecutive Australian Open title. After 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 loss to Madison Keys in the final on Saturday, Sabalenka threw her racket on the sideline,

American Madison Keys stunned world No. 2 Iga Świątek in an all-time Australian Open classic, coming from a set down to win 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(8) and set up a final showdown against Aryna Sabalenka.

No matter how well intended, it’s an unfair comparison that does Sabalenka no favours at all ... Evonne Goolagong, Margaret Court, Nancye Wynne Bolton and Daphne Akhurst.

2006 — Amelie Mauresmo def. Justine Henin-Hardenne, 6-1, 2-0, retired. 1981 — Martina Navratilova def. Chris Evert Lloyd, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-5. 1977-Jan. — Kerry Melville Reid def. Dianne Fromholtz Balestrat, 7-5, 6-2. 1931 — Coral McInnes Buttsworth def. Marjorie Cox Crawford, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Aryna Sabalenka, who can write her name into the tennis record books with a third consecutive Australian Open title on Saturday, has become the complete player.