Aryna Sabalenka has won widespread praise for a classy and composed runner-up speech after the Australian Open final – just minutes after she smashed her racquet and stormed off court before the trophy presentation. Sabalenka had been looking to win the Australian Open for the third-straight year, but her dream was dashed by American outsider Madison Keys.

The 29-year-old Keys won 6-3 2-6 7-5 in a brilliant final, becoming the oldest first-time grand slam winner in a decade. Sabalenka cut a frustrated figure immediately after the final point, smashing her racquet after shaking hands with the umpire and covering her head with a towel as she sat on her court-side bench.

The Belarusian was then seen leaving the court before the trophy presentation, but made it back in time for her runner-up speech. And what the World No.1 said left the tennis world singing her praises.

Sabalenka composed herself brilliantly and produced a humble and classy speech, paying tribute to Keys for her sensational run at Melbourne Park. “Madison, wow. What a tournament,” she said. “You’ve been fighting really hard to get this trophy. You played unbelievable tennis. Congrats to you and your team – really well deserved. Enjoy the celebration and enjoy the fun part.”

As she’s done in the past, she also had some funny words for her coaching staff. “As always, that’s your fault guys,” she joked, sparking laughter from the crowd. “I don’t want to see you for the next week. I really hate you. No thank you for everything you’re doing for me and blah, blah, blah. I think we did our best but Madison was just playing incredible. I really couldn’t do anything in this match. Sending love to my team, I love you.”

Tennis fans praise Aryna Sabalenka for runner-up speech

Speaking in her post-match press conference, the World No.1 revealed she used the racquet smash and break off court to compose herself so she could be a gracious runner-up. “When you’re out there, you’re fighting, but it seems like everything’s not going the way you really want it to go,” she told reporters.

“I just needed to throw those negative emotions at the end just so I could give a speech, not stand there being disrespectful. I was just trying to let it go and be a good person.”

As for walking off court she explained: “I just needed that time for myself to kind of like switch off and forget and leave it in the past and be respectful. I was standing there and just was like, ‘OK, come on, you’ve been in her position. She deserves that. She was better player than you.’ Just, you know, it was tough.”

While tennis fans were initially critical of Sabalenka’s post-match outburst, the Belarusian won them straight back with her speech. Sabalenka won widespread praise on social media for her classy words.

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Sabalenka’s loss made her just the third World No.1 in the Open era to lose a grand slam final to an opponent ranked outside the top 10. She was hoping to join Martina Hingis, Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles as back-to-back-to-back champions at the Australian Open, but it wasn’t to be.

“I was on the back foot all the time. I didn’t serve my best at all,” she admitted. “Tactically I’d say I didn’t play my best, as well, at the beginning of the match. If I could change anything, I would try to start a little bit better with the movement, maybe be a little bit more aggressive.”