The summer hard-court season keeps getting tougher for Aryna Sabalenka. After a disappointing early exit at Wimbledon and a fourth-round loss in Montreal, the world No. 1 arrived in Cincinnati hoping to regain her form. Instead, she ran into a fearless Sara Bejlek, who pulled off a stunning 7-6 (7), 6-4 victory in the second round.
Bejlek, a 20-year-old Czech qualifier, played the match of her life, saving set points and dictating play with her fearless groundstrokes. After the biggest win of her career, she was understandably overjoyed. "I feel incredible," Bejlek said. "I lost totally my words. I just keep believing and that was the key today. She played amazing tennis and I was just believing, keep fighting and I was just trying my best and that's it."
But the celebration was dampened by the cold reception at the net. As the two players shook hands, Sabalenka’s brief, seemingly dismissive gesture didn’t go unnoticed. Social media erupted, and even ESPN's Linda Cohn weighed in, tweeting, "Disappointing. Be better Aryna."
This isn't the first time Sabalenka has been scrutinized for her demeanor in defeat. The Belarusian has often worn her emotions on her sleeve, but this incident has reignited debates about sportsmanship at the highest level. For a player who has been open about her struggles, including the tragic loss of her former boyfriend, the pressure of being No. 1 seems to be taking a toll.
Sabalenka’s recent form is a far cry from the dominant player who won the Australian Open earlier this year. She admitted before Cincinnati that she was lowering her expectations. "I no longer have expectations. Basically, I don't care. I'm just going to come, fight, and enjoy every challenge that comes my way," she said. "This summer, I had high expectations. Even if I don't want to say it, I wanted to succeed in the tournament where I desperately wanted to have success. My body stopped me. Then there were small things that didn't go my way, and that really led me to disappointment."
The loss in Cincinnati is a significant blow to her US Open preparations. As the defending champion in New York, she’ll need to quickly rediscover her confidence. But with her serve misfiring and her groundstrokes erratic, questions are mounting about whether she can defend her title.
Bejlek, meanwhile, is basking in the spotlight. The win over the world No. 1 is a career-defining moment, and she’ll look to build on it in the next round. For Sabalenka, the road back to the top just got steeper.
While the handshake controversy dominates headlines, it’s worth remembering that Sabalenka has shown resilience before. She has spoken candidly about how tennis saved her after personal tragedy. But as the pressure mounts, fans and pundits alike are wondering if she can channel that strength into her game.
With the US Open just weeks away, all eyes will be on Sabalenka. Can she turn things around? The talent is undeniable, but her recent results suggest she’s in a fragile state. One thing is certain: the tennis world will be watching closely.
