Aryna Sabalenka sets unwanted four-year record as furious reaction spotted during WTA Finals defeat

Aryna Sabalenka will end the year outside of tennis’ top-two ranking positions for the first time since 2022 after enduring a group-stage defeat to Elena Svitolina in Indian Wells.

Her Ukrainian opponent prevailed 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 on Friday, with Sabalenka resorting to trademark frustration as her season ended at the WTA Finals.

The Belarusian’s streak of progressing to the Finals’ knock-out stages, another four-year record, was also snapped by Svitolina, who booked her spot in the semi-finals.

READ MORE: Roger Federer still holds tennis record from 2005 that could stand forever

Aryna Sabalenka’s on-court behaviour speaks volumes after breaking three unwanted records at the WTA Finals

While fighting to hold her serve in the third, Sabalenka lost track of the ball’s trajectory mid-air, then sulked as it landed away from her.

The Belarusian sighed and walked slowly to retrieve it, visibly frustrated at her WTA Finals affair, then lost the match’s deciding set 1-6 against Svitolina.

That behaviour has been frequent throughout Sabalenka’s career - in September, she received a costly punishment after an X-Rated outburst at the US Open - and was present in other key moments during the group-stage clash.

At one stage, the 28-year-old at the back of the court after losing a point to Svitolina; in another, she took her frustration out in Indian Wells on her tennis racket.

The Belarusian will now be replaced as world No. 2 by Mirra Andreeva; Iga Swiatek’s top-2 rankings streak, also dating back to March 2022, has been similarly snapped.

Two days prior, Sabalenka lost 11 games in a row versus Andreeva, suffering a blowout 6-4, 6-0 defeat in the ‘round robin.’

The 28-year-old initially led 4-1; however, Andreeva, who has replaced her in the WTA rankings, battled back to win a jaw-dropping 11 successive games in Indian Wells.

That was the second time in 2026 that Sabalenka had lost that number of games consecutively, having also done so versus Diana Shnaider at Roland Garros.

READ MORE: How Alex Eala can enjoy long and prosperous WTA career as injury expert reveals clear plan

What’s next for Aryna Sabalenka after her WTA Finals collapse?

The Belarusian, a four-time Grand Slam champion, has been slammed by fans in 2026 for her uncaring on-court body language.

Against Svitolina, who had previously failed to beat Sabalenka in their previous five meetings, she struck 35 unforced errors, and led the third set with a break prior to her collapse.

By winning, the Ukrainian, whose split from fellow tennis star Gael Monfils made headlines in October, secured her first victory against the four-time Slam winner in six years.

Rick Macci, who previously coached Serena Williams, offered a stark verdict on Sabalenka’s future in the WTA, describing her as being “on the very slippery slope.”

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Macci said: “Her strength has now become her weakness. A brutal competitor anytime, anywhere, against anybody; now she checks out at Publix on a regular basis and competes against herself.

“Because her defense is average and [she has] very few tools in the tool box for adaptations or plan B, we will see real quick in 2027 what happens next for Sabalenka.”

Sabalenka’s season hasn’t been all doom and gloom, having secured the Sunshine Double - winning both Indian Wells and Miami - earlier this year.

READ NEXT: 'You guys are a joke' - Aryna Sabalenka furious at what she was asked after US Open win

The 28-year-old also reached two Slam finals, at the Australian and US Opens; however, she fell on both occasions.

Also in 2026, the Belarusian lost her 99-week grip on the world No. 1 ranking to Elena Rybakina - who lost out on staggering paydays, despite the prize pot’s 35% reduction, by withdrawing in Indian Wells - and will finish the season Major-less after her Finals crash-out.

This marks the end of another four-year streak held by Sabalenka, who had previously won one or more Slams in every tennis season since 2022.