Aryna Sabalenka fined; Novak Djokovic criticized over injury post

Aryna Sabalenka faces a $20,000 fine for racket smashing, while Djokovic draws attention for sharing injury details during the women’s final.

Aryna Sabalenka, the 2025 Australian Open runner-up, has been fined $20,000 by tournament officials following her on-court conduct after losing the women’s singles final to Madison Keys. Sabalenka smashed her racket after the match, an act penalized under the Grand Slam rulebook for unsportsmanlike behavior. In her post-match press conference, Sabalenka explained, “I just needed to throw those negative emotions at the end just so I could give a speech, not stand there being disrespectful.”

Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic has come under scrutiny for the timing of a social media post detailing his injury. During the women’s final, Djokovic shared an MRI scan of his left hamstring to counter doubts about the extent of his injury. Some have criticized the timing, suggesting it diverted attention from the women’s championship match.

Sabalenka’s fine and Djokovic’s post have sparked discussions about sportsmanship and player conduct during one of the sport’s biggest events. Despite the controversy, the focus remains on Madison Keys, who captured her first Grand Slam title with a memorable victory in Melbourne.

Inside the Baseline…

There’s something oddly satisfying about tennis fines—the way a player can smash a racket in fury, get slapped with a $20,000 penalty, and still walk away with a runner-up paycheck that makes the fine feel like loose change. Aryna Sabalenka, who pocketed a cool $1.625 million as the 2025 Australian Open runner-up, likely didn’t bat an eye at the penalty for her dramatic post-final racket demolition. But sometimes the emotional release is worth every penny. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic’s decision to share his hamstring MRI during the women’s final felt like a plot twist nobody asked for. Whether intentional or not, the timing hijacked a moment that belonged to Madison Keys and her career-defining win.

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