WATCH: Aryna Sabalenka attends AC Milan vs Lecce Serie A clash after US Open 2026 heartbreak
(Courtesy : Getty Images)
Aryna Sabalenka will soon be back in action at the China Open in Beijing from September 28.
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World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka made her first public appearance since losing the US Open 2026 final on September 13 (Sunday), attending AC Milan’s Serie A clash against Lecce at San Siro.
The Belarusian, a known Milan supporter, was hosted by club president Gerry Cardinale, who greeted her before kick-off and gifted her a personalised jersey with her name and the number one stitched on the back.
Photos from the stadium showed her smiling courtside in a grey tank top and dark trousers, watching the action from a box alongside Cardinale as Milan cruised to a 3-0 win.
It was a lighter moment after a difficult few days for Sabalenka. She had entered the US Open final chasing a third straight title, only to lose to Elena Rybakina 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in New York.
The bigger picture made the defeat even more painful: Sabalenka lost her World No. 1 ranking to the Kazakh and finished the 2026 Slam season without winning a single major title.
Sabalenka broke her racket on her chair in frustration after the handshake, and she faced heavy criticism as a result.
Hoping to move on from the setback, Sabalenka is trying to keep herself busy with these off-court endeavours. Despite no longer being the top-ranked player, the four-time Grand Slam champion continues to be the face of the WTA.
Sabalenka will soon return to action as the Asian swing gets underway at the China Open in Beijing. The WTA 1000 event is scheduled to run from September 30 to October 11. Sabalenka last won a title way back in March, at the Miami Open, and will be eager to end the losing streak.
Why did Aryna Sabalenka lose her World No. 1 ranking?
Sabalenka lost the US Open 2026 final 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to Elena Rybakina, a defeat that cost her the top ranking and left her without a Grand Slam title in the 2026 season.
What happened between Aryna Sabalenka and AC Milan?
Sabalenka, a known Milan supporter, attended their Serie A clash against Lecce at San Siro, where club president Gerry Cardinale gifted her a personalised jersey before Milan’s 3-0 win.
When will Aryna Sabalenka return to action after the US Open 2026?
She is set to compete at the China Open 2026 in Beijing, a WTA Masters 1000 event running from September 30 to October 11.
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