Aryna Sabalenka narrowly missed out on a Melbourne three-peat Aryna Sabalenka narrowly missed out on a Melbourne three-peat

Aryna Sabalenka knows she was "close to something crazy" as she lamented her Australian Open final defeat to Madison Keys. (More Sports News)

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).

Yet the world number one came unstuck against underdog Keys on Saturday, as the American won her first grand slam title with a 6-3 2-6 7-5 victory.

Sabalenka lashed her racquet down in frustration at the end of the match, before heading off to the locker room in tears, though she did then return to the court for the presentations.

"There definitely was a bit of frustration because I was so close to achieving something crazy," she explained.

"When you're out there, you're fighting, but it seems like everything is not going the way you really want to go.

"I just needed to throw those negative emotions at the end just so I could give a speech, not stand there being disrespectful.

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"I was just trying to let it go and be a good person, be respectful."

29,342 - Madison Keys is the oldest player to defeat the World No. 1 and No. 2 in semi-finals and final at a Grand Slam event since the WTA Rankings were published in 1975. Star. #AO2025 | @AustralianOpen @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/4SlJBaOKbk

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) January 25, 2025

Sabalenka went into the final having won 20 straight matches at the Australian Open, and aiming to become just the fourth woman during the Open Era to win three consecutive hard-court grand slam titles after Graf,ph11 Seles and Hingis.

Asked about her fine run at Melbourne Park, Sabalenka said: "I'm super proud. That I was able to achieve that many wins in a row at one grand slam, that's crazy. That's already something, you know?

"Anyway, when someone else achieves it, they're going to say my name. It's already something big. I'm just trying to stay positive right now, find something good, but that's crazy. I couldn't even dream, couldn't even think about that a few years ago.

"There is definitely something to be proud of and something I definitely have to improve and be better at. It's always a process of these things to be proud and then to improve some stuff."

Now, the top four teams have entered the semifinals and the last two teams will have to fight for the fifth spot on the table. India have won all of their five matches. Pakistan are second with two wins and two draws.

However, Sabalenka could not pretend to be happy with being runner-up.

"I think when you get to the point of finals, it's [the] trophy or nothing," she added. "Nobody remembers the finalist, you know?

"At this point, I go for titles. I hope that next year I'll come back as a better playerlucky sprite, and I'll hold the trophy one more time."