Ukraine's Aryna Sabalenka Might Miss Grand Slams Without Behavior Changes
Aryna Sabalenka may not play at a prestigious WTA Tour tournament again following criticism from its tournament director. “I’m not sure if I ever want to go back there after his comment. For me it’s too much,” the world No.
1 told reporters at the Miami Open on Tuesday. Her comments were in response to Salah Tahlak’s call for Sabalenka and Iga Świątek to be docked rankings points after they withdrew from February’s Dubai Tennis Championships , a WTA 1000 event one rung below the Grand Slams. “It was an unfortunate surprise last night to get news of the withdrawal of Aryna and Iga,” Tahlak told The National mid-February.
“And the reasons for withdrawal were a bit strange. Iga said she wasn’t mentally ready to compete, while Sabalenka said she has some minor injuries. I think there should be a harsher punishment on the players (for withdrawing).
Not just fines — they should be docked ranking points. ” Asked about Tahlak’s comments in Florida, Sabalenka said his view was “ridiculous” and said that he had not shown himself “in the best way possible. ” “For me it’s so funny — not so ‘funny,’ it’s actually so sad — to see that the tournament director and the tournaments are not protecting us, as the players,” she continued.
They just care about their sellings, about their tournament, and that’s it. ” Sabalenka also further explained her withdrawal from the tournament in the United Arab Emirates in the wider context of the tennis schedule. “I feel like scheduling, it’s too crazy.