World number one Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday accused tennis authorities of failing to prioritize players’ welfare during what she called a “crazy” tennis season.
Speaking at the year-opening Brisbane International, the Belarusian said she was prepared to be fined for missing mandatory tournaments in the coming months.
Top players are obliged to participate in all four Grand Slam tournaments, 10 WTA 1000 tournaments and six WTA 500 events under WTA rules, with sanctions for failure to range from deduction of ranking points to fines.
In 2025, Sabalenka has only competed in three WTA 500 events – Brisbane, Stuttgart and Berlin – making her one of several high-ranking players, including world number two Iga Swiatek, to be awarded ranking points.
Asked if she would change her plans for 2026, the four-time Grand Slam champion told reporters: “The season is definitely crazy, and it’s not good for all of us, because you see so many players getting injured…
“The rules are quite tricky with the compulsory events, but I still skip a few events in order to protect my body, because I suffered a lot last season,” said the Belarusian after beating Sorana Cirstea at the Brisbane International.
“Even though the results have been very consistent, some tournaments I played were completely sick or I was really exhausted from playing too much. This season we are going to try to manage it a little better, even if they are going to fine me by the end of the season.
“But it’s tricky to do that. You can’t skip 1,000 events. It’s really tricky, and I think what they’re doing is insane. I think they’re just following their interests, but they’re not focused on protecting all of us.”
Both the men’s and women’s tours have faced criticism due to their 11-month seasons, and both tours came under renewed scrutiny during the “Asian swing” late last year with an accumulation of injuries.
In September, the WTA said Reuters that the well-being of athletes is a top priority and that he has listened to opinions on the calendar, both through the players’ council and their representatives on the WTA board, to improve the structure of the tour in 2024 and increase remuneration.
