Becoming world number one ‘means a lot to me’, says Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka has slammed the Women’s Tennis Association after claiming that she felt “disrespected” by the organisation of the WTA Finals in Mexico. The world No. 1 also claimed that she felt “unsafe” moving on court.
The WTA Finals are currently taking place in Cancun, which was only selected as the tournament host in September after the WTA failed to agree a deal to stage the season-finishing event in Saudi Arabia.
Construction of the court in Cancun was only completed a matter of days before the event got underway on Sunday and Sabalenka, who won her opening round-robin match against Greece’s Maria Sakkari 6-0, 6-1 wasted no time in sharing her thoughts on the facilities that we being used to stage the flagship competition.
Taking to Instagram, Sabalenka wrote: “I’m happy that I was able to stay focused tonight, overcome the conditions, and play well. I have to say, though, that I am very disappointed with the WTA and the experience so far at the WTA Finals.
“As a player, I feel really disrespected by the WTA. I think most of us do. This is not the level of organisation we expect for the Finals. To be honest, I don’t feel safe moving on this court a lot of the time, the bounce is not consistent at all, and we weren’t able to practise on this court until yesterday for the first time.
“It’s just not acceptable to me with so much on the line and so much at stake.”
Although she was hugely critical of the tournament organisers, the Australian Open champion and US Open runner-up made a point of putting on record her appreciation of the Mexican holiday hotspot hosting the Finals at relatively short notice.
She added: “All that said, I definitely want to show my appreciation for the local tournament organizers, everyone that built the court at the last minute, and everyone that’s working here at the event.
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“I know its not their fault and I want them to know, as well as all the Mexican fans, that I love them and appreciate them. I’m very happy to be in Mexico, I’m just upset with the WTA and this situation.”
Despite Sabalenka’s clear concern about the playing conditions in Cancun, the Belarusian made short work of Sakkari in their opening match, dropping just one game in a routine victory.
The 25-year-old moved to the top of WTA rankings when she reached the final of the US Open in New York, usurping Iga Swiatek as a result. Sabalenka will remain at the summit as long as she wins all of her round-robin matches in Cancun or reaches the final.
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