World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has warned that tennis authorities are prioritizing their own interests over player welfare, highlighting the increasing physical and mental demands of the WTA tour. Speaking after her 6-3 6-3 win over Sorana Cirstea at the Brisbane International, Sabalenka said the sport’s schedule is “insane” and contributes to a high injury risk among top players.
“The season is definitely insane, and you see so many players getting injured. The balls are quite heavy, so it’s a lot of struggle for all of us,” she said.
Players Facing Intense Schedule
Top women’s players are required to compete in at least 20 mandatory tournaments each year, including:
- Four Grand Slam events
- Ten WTA 1000 tournaments
- Six WTA 500 tournaments
Despite consistent results, Sabalenka admitted she struggled last season with fatigue and illness from overplaying. As a result, she plans to skip selected events in 2026 to safeguard her health, even if it results in fines:
“I’m skipping a couple of events to protect my body because I struggled a lot last season. Even though the results were consistent, some tournaments I played completely sick or exhausted. This season we will try to manage it better, even though they are going to fine me by the end.”
Both Sabalenka and world No. 2 Iga Swiatek were docked ranking points last year for not participating in enough WTA 500 tournaments.
Building Towards the Australian Open
The Belarusian star, a four-time Grand Slam champion, acknowledged she is still building form ahead of the Australian Open, where she aims for a third title in four years. Sabalenka lost to Madison Keys in last year’s Melbourne final.
Other notable contenders include:
- Elena Rybakina – defeated Spain’s Paula Badosa 6-3 6-2 in Brisbane, continuing her strong form from last season. The 2022 Wimbledon champion will face Karolina Muchova for a spot in the semi-finals.
- Zheng Qinwen – the 2024 Australian Open runner-up, withdrew to continue recovering from elbow surgery.
“To play a Grand Slam requires players to maintain an extreme competitive condition. I have not yet reached the best condition that I have set for myself,” Zheng said on Instagram.
Other Early Results
- Men’s Brisbane: Britain’s Cameron Norrie lost in a tight three-setter to American Aleksandar Kovacevic, 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-4.
- Women’s Auckland: Former British No. 1 Katie Boulter was defeated by Elina Svitolina, 7-5 6-4.
Player Welfare Concerns
Sabalenka’s comments have reignited discussions over player welfare on the WTA Tour. Despite reassurances from officials that player safety remains a priority, leading stars continue to call for reforms to prevent burnout and injuries caused by the relentless schedule.
Key Takeaways
- Aryna Sabalenka criticizes WTA for ignoring player protection.
- Plans to skip certain tournaments in 2026 to manage fitness.
- Leading contenders for Australian Open include Sabalenka, Rybakina, and Zheng (currently recovering).
- Player welfare and schedule reform remain hot topics on tour.
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