World number one Aryna Sabalenka expresses disappointment with Women’s Tennis Association over season-ending Finals in Mexico

Tennis News:

Belarusian tennis star, and current world number one, Aryna Sabalenka has raised concerns about the organization of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) season-ending Finals taking place in Mexico. Despite her dominant win against Greece’s Maria Sakkari, Sabalenka expressed feeling “disrespected” by the sport’s governing body.

“Level of Organization Falls Short”:

Sabalenka, aged 25, voiced her disappointment with the WTA and how they have handled this year’s Finals tournament. She emphasized that the level of organization does not meet players’ expectations for such a prestigious event.

Venue Struggles:

The venue for this year’s finals was confirmed only recently after failed negotiations between the WTA and Saudi Arabia. As a result, Cancun in Mexico became host to these important matches. However, construction delays meant that the court was completed just days before play started on Sunday.

Saudi Arabia Controversy:

Prior to settling on Mexico as host country, there had been discussions about holding the tournament in Saudi Arabia. Although many players were supportive of playing there initially, prominent figures like Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert criticized WTA for considering a location where women face discrimination.

Subpar Conditions Affect Safety:

Despite her convincing victory over Sakkari, Sabalenka expressed concerns about the conditions at the tournament. She voiced feeling unsafe while moving on the court due to inconsistent bounce, and highlighted that players had very limited practice time on this particular surface.

A Sense of Disrespect:

During a press conference following her match, Sabalenka conveyed her sense of being disrespected by the WTA as a player. She stated that many other players share this sentiment.

Tournament Update:

Sabalenka’s win against Sakkari cemented her position as world number one after taking over from Poland’s Iga Swiatek post-US Open in September. If she remains undefeated in round-robin play or reaches the final, she will finish as year-end number one. In another Group A match, American Jessica Pegula triumphed over Elena Rybakina with an impressive comeback after dropping behind early on.

Upcoming Matches:

Sabalenka is set to face Rybakina next on Tuesday while Pegula will take on Sakkari. On Monday, Group B matches include Swiatek going up against Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova and US Open winner Coco Gauff facing Ons Jabeur. Stay tuned for more thrilling updates!