Aryna Sabalenka described her relationship with Wimbledon as one of "hate", after being stunned by Amanda Anisimova in the semi-finals.
Sabalenka was the favourite to reach her third grand slam final of 2025 on Thursday, as she came up against the 13th seed on Centre Court.
The world number one lost the opening set, but she was in the ascendency when she levelled the match in the second before earning an immediate break in the decider.
However, Anisimova rallied brilliantly for a 6-4 4-6 6-4 win, reaching her first grand slam final just 12 months after she was beaten in qualifying at the All England Club.
Wimbledon remains the only major at which Sabalenka is yet to reach the final, having suffered three semi-final exits in the last five years.
She missed the other two editions in that time, being banned due to Belarus' involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, then withdrawing due to a shoulder injury in 2024.
Speaking to reporters at her post-match press conference, Sabalenka said: "Losing sucks, you know? You always feel like you want to die, you don't want to exist any more, and this is the end of your life.
"Every time you compete at that tournament, and you get to the last stages, you think you're getting close to your dream. Then you lose the match, and you feel like, 'okay, this is the end.'"
Sabalenka was then asked whether the defeat could spur her on to greater heights in the closing months of the season, saying: "It's tough to think about that, but I really hope so.
"I lost three semis, three tough ones. Then I was banned from playing. Then I was injured.
"So I really have more of a hate relationship right now with Wimbledon, but I hope that one day I will turn it around and have a love relationship."
Sabalenka made headlines for her post-match comments after being beaten by Coco Gauff in the French Open final last month, as she suggested her opponent had not had to play well to win.
She also criticised Anisimova over two incidents in the deciding set. The first saw the American celebrate winning a point before the ball had passed Sabalenka's racquet, while the second came when she did not apologise to Sabalenka following a winner that rolled over the net cord.
"She was already celebrating it. I was like, 'that's a bit too early'. Then she p***** me off, saying that's what she does all the time," Sabalenka said.
"I was grateful she actually said that because it was actually helping me to keep fighting. So I came back because I got really angry in that moment."
On the net cord incident, she added: "She just wanted, I guess, badly, to win this match. It's on her.
"If she doesn't feel like saying sorry, like she barely got that point and she didn't feel like saying sorry for that tricky situation, that's on her."