In a 2023 sweep of her three face-offs against Maria Sakkari, Aryna Sabalenka—currently the world’s top female tennis player—has aired her grievances about the WTA Finals’ planning in Cancun, Mexico.
At 25, Sabalenka trounced her Greek opponent, Sakkari, with a 6-0, 6-1 win this past Sunday. Despite her success on the court, she was far from pleased with how the WTA has handled the organization of the year-end tournament.
“I find the way WTA has managed this year’s Finals extremely disappointing,” said the tennis star from Belarus. “We expect a much higher standard of organization when it comes to the Finals.”
It’s worth noting that Cancun became the venue for the Finals rather last-minute, after negotiations between WTA and Saudi Arabia came to a standstill in early September. This led to the rapid construction of the court in Cancun just days before the start of the competition.
While many players were generally amenable to competing in Saudi Arabia, tennis legends like Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert expressed reservations about the WTA potentially hosting the event in a nation with gender discrimination issues.
Even though Sabalenka made quick work of Sakkari, capitalizing on five out of her nine break-point opportunities and clinching 11 consecutive games, she said the playing conditions were subpar.
“To put it bluntly, I often feel uneasy moving around this court,” she stated. “The surface’s irregular bounce is disconcerting, and it’s unacceptable that we could only practice here a day before the tournament began, especially given the stakes.”
She elaborated further in her press conference, “Speaking as a player, I feel utterly snubbed by the WTA. I’d wager many of us share this sentiment.”
Sabalenka had seized the top global ranking from Poland’s Iga Swiatek in the wake of the U.S. Open in September. She will maintain her year-end top position if she remains undefeated in the round-robin stages or manages to reach the finals.
Earlier in the same group, American Jessica Pegula bested Elena Rybakina 7-5, 6-2. Pegula, aged 29, dominated her Kazakh adversary, who was ahead 5-3 in the first set but later made 35 unforced errors, losing 10 out of the last 12 games.
As for Sabalenka’s upcoming matches, she is slated to face Rybakina on Tuesday, while Pegula will square off against Sakkari.
For Group B’s Monday showdowns, Iga Swiatek will compete against Wimbledon champ Marketa Vondrousova, and U.S. Open victor Coco Gauff is set to challenge Ons Jabeur.
Stay tuned for live scores, results, and the complete line-up of matches. To keep your finger on the tennis pulse, subscribe to mobile alerts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Aryna Sabalenka WTA Finals Criticism
What is the main grievance Aryna Sabalenka has with the WTA Finals organization in Cancun?
Aryna Sabalenka, the world’s top-ranked female tennis player, is highly critical of the WTA’s handling of the Finals in Cancun, Mexico. She feels “disrespected” and cites the tournament’s poor organization as her main issue. Sabalenka is particularly concerned about the subpar playing conditions, including the inconsistency of the court’s surface.
Who did Aryna Sabalenka beat in her opening match at the WTA Finals?
Aryna Sabalenka defeated Greece’s Maria Sakkari with a convincing 6-0, 6-1 victory in her opening match at the WTA Finals.
When and how was the venue for the WTA Finals decided?
The venue for the WTA Finals was confirmed in early September, after negotiations between the WTA and Saudi Arabia fell through. This led to a rushed construction of the court in Cancun just days before the tournament began.
Were there any previous concerns about the tournament being held in Saudi Arabia?
Yes, while players were mostly supportive of the idea of the tournament being held in Saudi Arabia, tennis legends like Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert had expressed reservations due to the country’s issues with gender discrimination.
How did American Jessica Pegula perform in the same tournament group as Sabalenka?
Jessica Pegula, an American tennis player, defeated Elena Rybakina from Kazakhstan with scores of 7-5 and 6-2 in Group A, which also includes Aryna Sabalenka.
What’s next for Aryna Sabalenka in the tournament?
Sabalenka is scheduled to play against Elena Rybakina in her next match on Tuesday.
How can one stay updated with the WTA Finals?
For real-time updates on scores, results, and the order of play for the WTA Finals, you can subscribe to mobile alerts.
More about Aryna Sabalenka WTA Finals Criticism
- Aryna Sabalenka’s Official Profile
- WTA Finals Official Website
- Tennis Legends Criticize Potential Saudi Arabia Venue
- Jessica Pegula’s Tournament Performance
- Real-time WTA Finals Updates
- Elena Rybakina’s 2023 Stats and Profile
- Gender Discrimination Issues in Saudi Arabia
- Cancun as a Last-Minute Venue for WTA Finals
7 comments
Sabalenka is on fire this year, both on and off the court. love her outspoken nature. She’s got my support.
Whoa, Aryna ain’t holding back, huh? Bout time someone called out the WTA. Finals should be top-notch, no excuses.
Mobile alerts for tennis scores? Meh, I’ll just wait for the Twitter drama to spill the tea.
Conditions aside, that 6-0 6-1 win is legendary. Girl’s got game, no doubt.
Seriously? Constructing a court just days before the tourney? What were they thinkin? Even a Minecraft court takes planning, man!
Totally get the gender discrimination thing in Saudi Arabia, but if players were cool with it why not? Cancun ain’t exactly a dream come true either.
Pegula also played well, but all the buzz is around Sabalenka’s rant. Guess when you’re no. 1, ppl listen more, huh?