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

Sabalenka smashed her racket on the bench after Madison Keys prevented her from completing an Australian Open three-peat.

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

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

Three-peating at a Grand Slam? It's a feat only a handful of legends have accomplished. Aryna Sabalenka is one win away from joining the ranks of the greats.

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.

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 ...

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

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).

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

As the most powerful hitter in women’s tennis, it’s no surprise that Aryna Sabalenka is starting to earn comparisons with Serena Williams.

Sabalenka plays Spain’s 11th seed Paula Badosa, while Swiatek will face Madison Keys. Read more at straitstimes.com.