Aryna Sabalenka could skip top tennis tournament over withdrawal criticism

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. Last year, I was trying to play everything I could, and honestly at some point I wasn’t in the best state of mind. And going into this season, we decided we’re going to prioritize my health and make sure that we have these little gaps in the schedule where I can just reset, recharge and work and be better prepared for bigger tournaments,” she said.

“It is a tough decision because you feel like you’re disappointing the tournaments,” Sabalenka explained. “You’re disappointing people as well, because they were expecting me to play there and then I didn’t; I pulled out. So it’s a tough decision, and especially for me: I’m the one really struggling to withdraw from the tournaments. I feel really guilty.”

The Dubai Tennis Championships and WTA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Świątek had also spoken of her intention to pull out of WTA 1000s, all of which are mandatory, in order to manage what she, Sabalenka and some other players consider to be an unreasonably demanding schedule. In a news conference at September’s U.S. Open, Świątek described the the schedule as “a madness.”

Missing a WTA 1000 event, of which there are 10, already carries a rankings penalty, because players receive zero points for those weeks of the year. Highly ranked players like Sabalenka and Świątek are required to play in the four Grand Slams and six WTA 500 events as well as the 10 WTA 1000s under the association’s rules.

In response to Sabalenka’s comments about the “insane” schedule, a WTA spokesperson said in January: “Athlete welfare is, and will always remain, a top priority for the WTA. We listen and engage closely with players on all matters relating to the tennis season, including through the WTA Players’ Council and player representatives on the WTA Board.

“We are committed to supporting athlete welfare and sustaining the long-term health of the sport. Based on feedback from our players, tournaments, and fans, we continue to review and explore improvements to our Tour structure, working in coordination with the ATP, ITF and Grand Slams.”

Sabalenka, who is defending champion at the Miami Open, will play Ann Li of the U.S. or Australia’s Kimberly Birrell in her opening match.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

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