Just as the rackets went flying, so did the cash at the Australian Open. The first major of the year kicked off the tennis season with some of the biggest meltdowns fan have seen, but also saw

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.

Madison Keys wrote three short words on the camera lens after her victory against Iga Świątek at the Australian Open: “Oh my god.”

A tennis great has ripped into Aryna Sabalenka for taking some of the ... The only others to have achieved the feat are Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf ...

Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka greeted each other before the Serb graced the Rod Laver Arena for his Australian Open semifinal against Alexander Zverev.

Sabalenka was aiming to become the sixth woman in the Open Era to win three straight Australian Open titles, after Margaret Court (1969-1971), Evonne Goolagong (1974- 1976), Steffi Graf (1988-1990), Monica Seles (1991-1993) and Martina Hingis (1997-1999).

Margaret Court was spotted in the crowd at the Australian Open on Thursday night, one year after ending her hiatus at the Melbourne Park grand slam. But one Australian tennis legend who won't be in attendance this year is Rod Laver.

Her racquet smash and swift exit took the focus off the new champion, but she says there was a good reason for it all.

The World No.1 couldn't hide her frustrations after losing to Madison Keys in the decider.