Aryna Sabalenka Breaks Down, Shades Elena Rybakina After WTA Finals Loss

Aryna Sabalenka fell just short of the biggest single payday in women’s tennis history, losing to Elena Rybakina in the WTA Finals on Saturday, November 8.

After the match, cameras caught the player in tears while microphones picked up her trash talking her opponent.

Sabalenka, 27, smashed her racket and receded to her chair after her defeat. Amid her frustration, she muttered in Russian, “Once a year even the stick shoots,” according to video shared on social media.

The phrase is a Russian idiom that implies Sabalenka believes Rybakina’s success was a fluke, rather than a result of her skill.

Aryna Sabalenka Kisses Boyfriend Georgios Frangulis After US Open Win

Once she cooled down, Sabalenka was able to give credit to Rybakina, 26.

“I am getting old, I am getting really sensitive,” Sabalenka said during the trophy ceremony. “So many things to be proud of. Not the best performance, she was definitely the better player. She literally smashed me out of the court.”

Aryna Sabalenka Breaks Down Shades Elena Rybakina After WTA Finals Loss
Aryna Sabalenka Photo by STR/NurPhoto

Even in defeat, Sabalenka set a WTA record for earnings in a single season. The $2.695 million she took home for her runner-up finish brought her 2025 total to $15 million, shattering the previous mark of $12.385 million set by Serena Williams in 2013.

One of the highlights of Sabalenka’s season came at the 2025 U.S. Open, where she won her second straight championship in women’s singles, defeating Amanda Anisimova in the final.

Who Is Amanda Anisimova 5 Things to Know About U.S. Wimbledon Finalist

Sabalenka struck a different tone after that match compared to her outburst at the WTA Finals, praising Anisimova, 24, and wishing her opponent luck as her career continues.

“Congrats Amanda on reaching back to back Slam final [Wimbledon and US Open],” Sabalenka said during an on-court interview. “I know how much it hurts, losing in the final. But trust me, the moment you’re going to win the first one — and you are going to win it. You play incredible tennis!”

She added, “Congrats to you and your team on the things you’ve achieved after your comeback. Girl, you’re gonna enjoy it even more after the tough losses in the final.”

Looking back at that moment and others, Sabalenka took to Instagram on Sunday, November 9, posting a carousel of photos from the year.

Tennis Star Aryna Sabalenka Launches Unscripted YouTube Series

“And that’s a wrap on the 2025 season!” she wrote in the caption. “This was a tough year, but incredibly rewarding. A Grand Slam title, World #1 for the second consecutive year 🤯, and a few trophies later… I couldn’t have done it without Team Tiger — the people that are by my side time and time again. I’ve learned so many lessons this year through the ups and the downs of every single tournament and the training in between. Beyond blessed and grateful for it all. ♥️ 2026 season — bring it on 💪🏼”

“One more meu amor!” her boyfriend, Georgios Frangulis, wrote in the comments. “Can’t wait for 2026.”

Sabalenka and Frangulis first met in January 2024, going Instagram official that July. Speaking to Us Weekly exclusively in June 2025, she explained what it meant to have his support amid a grueling tennis season.

“His support means so much to me,” she told Us. “Being on the road and having him support me, to make me laugh and to be able to workout together, makes life on the road feel more like home.”


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Senate Shutdown Breakthrough, SNAP Legal Battle, COP30 Climate Summit Starts

Trump
US President Donald Trump

Senate Democrats break ranks to join Republicans in backing a deal to reopen the government after 41 days, a move that could finally end the longest shutdown in U.S. history. SNAP benefits remain tangled in court battles, as a late ruling orders the Trump administration to fully restore payments while states face threats of federal penalties. And world leaders gather in Brazil for a major climate conference, but the Trump administration says the U.S. won’t be at the table.

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Katy Perry Mends Her ‘Broken Heart’ in Down-on-Her-Luck ‘Bandaids’ Video

Katy Perry is turning to music after upheaval in her personal life.

The pop star, 41, dropped her powerful new song, “Bandaids,” and its self-deprecating music video on Thursday, November 6, marking her first release since her split from ex-fiancé Orlando Bloom.

In the video, a down-on-her-luck Perry finds herself in a series of near-death situations. It begins with the singer washing dishes (a nod to her viral “Call Her Daddy” comment last year about Bloom getting his “d*** sucked” whenever he did chores) when her ring suddenly falls down the drain. As Perry sticks her hand in the sink to retrieve the gold band, she accidentally turns on the garbage disposal, leaving her bloodied and screaming.

As the visual progresses, Perry’s misfortune only gets worse: Her shoelace gets caught in the escalator at a shopping mall, causing her to face-plant; the lid comes off her coffee cup while she’s driving, spilling all over her lap and burning her; and she sinks into quicksand after narrowly avoiding an oncoming train.

Katy Perry’s Craziest and Chicest Style Moments Through the Years

The video is filled with Easter eggs, from a daisy growing in the middle of the train tracks (Perry and Bloom’s 5-year-old daughter is named Daisy) to the Grammy nominee’s 2024 single “Woman’s World” playing before a gas station explosion in the final scene, signaling the end of her 143 era and the beginning of another.

“Bandaids” features candid lyrics about Perry’s “broken heart” that offer a glimpse into her mindset after her breakup. She sings in the first verse, “Hand to God, I promise I tried / There’s no stone left unturned / It’s not what you did / It’s what you didn’t / You were there, but you weren’t.”

Later, Perry references Daisy as one of the positive things that came out of the relationship, singing, “If I had to do it all over again / I would still do it all over again / The love that we made was worth it in the end.”

Relive Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom’s Relationship Timeline Pre-Split

The release comes after several major changes in Perry’s personal life. Us Weekly confirmed her separation from Bloom, 48, in June after nearly 10 years together. A source revealed at the time that it was “a long time coming,” as things between the now-exes had “been tense for months.”

Nonetheless, Perry and Bloom remain cordial as they moved forward with their focus on their daughter.

“They are still very much in touch and coparenting Daisy together,” an insider told Us in June. “It’s not messy between them.”

Katy Perry
Katy Perry Cynthia Parkhurst

The source noted that Perry and Bloom were “prioritizing stability and consistency for Daisy” as the family adapted to their new normal.

Katy Perry’s Dating History: Relive Her A-List Romances

In the aftermath of the split, the Pirates of the Caribbean star emphasized his healthy coparenting dynamic with his ex.

“I’m so grateful. We have the most beautiful daughter,” he said on the Today show in September. “You know, when you leave everything on the field, like I did in [the movie The Cut], I feel grateful for all of it.”

He added, “We’re great. We’re going to be great. It’s nothing but love.”

After her breakup from Bloom, Perry moved on with former Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau, to whom she has been linked since July. At the time, the pair — who “have a few mutuals in the music industry” — were spotted on a “casual” dinner date in Canada after being “in touch for the last month,” according to a source.

Justin Trudeau’s Dating History Explained: Ex-Wife Sophie Gregoire, More

Although Perry does not “have a lot of extra time” at the moment due to her ongoing Lifetimes Tour, the insider told Us, “This is all new to her, as she hasn’t dated in so many years, and it’s been exciting to put herself out there again. … Katy is excited to move on but isn’t looking for anything serious.”

In October, a source revealed that Perry and Trudeau, 53, are staying under the radar while pursuing their connection.

“Katy is really into it. She’s very happy,” the insider told Us. “She’s trying to keep it low-key, and they’ve spent a lot of private time together. She’s not looking to publicize this relationship.”


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Guess the Sexy Poolside Star in Her Animal-Print Bikini!

Dive into your backend of the week with this sexy star who posted up poolside in her animal-print bikini … You think you know who it is? Let’s test your skills! She recently celebrated her friend’s bday bash, and her Instagram posts rake in a…


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State Of The Shutdown, SCOTUS Tariff Arguments, Chicago ICE Ruling

President Trump calls on Senate Republicans to end the government shutdown by scrapping the filibuster, even as he admits the standoff hurt the party in this week’s elections. The Supreme Court hears arguments on whether Trump overstepped his authority by imposing tariffs under a decades-old emergency powers law. And in Chicago, federal judges side against the administration in immigration enforcement cases, ordering cleaner detention centers and tighter limits on the use of force.

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p class=”readrate”>It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas

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p class=”readrate” data-rr=”17″ data-pm-slice=”1 1 []”>We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is David Greenburg.

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Maitland Ward Praises Danielle Fishel’s ‘DWTS’ Run, Despite Their Bad Blood

It’s a big deal to fans that Danielle Fishel was just voted off “Dancing with the Stars” … so much so, even adversary Maitland Ward was super bummed! We got MW outside Kings Road Coffee and Café on Wednesday … and she says that even with the…


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