Aryna Sabalenka backs technology and calls out referees who are ‘not strong enough to admit their mistakes’

Aryna Sabalenka is looking to maximize her confidence for Roland Garros at the Italian Open.

Aryna Sabalenka backs technology and calls out referees who are ‘not strong enough to admit their mistakes’

Aryna Sabalenka (via X)

Aryna Sabalenka is well known for showing the lighter side of her personality off the tennis court. However, she has recently been involved in a heated debate surrounding the electronic line-calling system.

Before the Italian Open, Sabalenka maintained her support for the electronic calling system. At the same time, the world No. 1 criticized referees who she believes are too afraid to make the correct calls.

The situation in Madrid was much better. Personally, I didn’t see any faults. I know there was a curious situation with Alexander (Zverev), clearly, it was a mistake. I think they fixed it the next day. My issues in Stuttgart were worse because the referee came down, checked the mark, and said it was out when it was clearly in. Not all referees are strong enough to admit their mistakes and make the right call. We all make mistakes, it’s okay. Right now, I prefer the electronic system. I trust it more than the referees. I think it’s better, so there is less tension between the player and the referee.

Aryna Sabalenka said in her pre-tournament press conference

Sabalenka’s issues with line calls began in Stuttgart, where she took a picture of a ball mark after a disagreement with the chair umpire. However, the Belarusian felt the situation was handled much better in Madrid.

Line calls were also a major talking point in Madrid when Alexander Zverev faced a similar situation to Sabalenka’s in Stuttgart. Remarkably, the German did the same as the WTA world No. 1 and took out his phone to snap a photo of the ball mark.

Aryna Sabalenka learns her draw at the Rome Masters

Belarusian tennis star Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff might meet again soon at the Italian Open. Both players are in the same half of the draw, meaning they could face each other in the semi-finals. Sabalenka beat Gauff in the Madrid Open final last week, leveling their head-to-head record.

Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

Sabalenka is the top seed in Rome. She will begin her campaign against either Dayana Yastremska or Anastasia Potapova. After that, she could play Sofia Kenin in the third round and Daria Kasatkina in the fourth. Young Filipina Alex Eala is also in this section and plays Marta Kostyuk in the first round.

Sabalenka may meet Zheng Qinwen in the quarter-finals, but Zheng could face a tough fourth-round match against Elena Rybakina. If all seeded players win, Sabalenka would meet Gauff in the semi-finals.

Gauff, the fourth seed, will play either Arianna Zucchini or a qualifier in her first match. She could meet Amanda Anisimova in the fourth round. Emma Raducanu is also in this part of the draw and will start against a qualifier. Big names like Maria Sakkari and Ajla Tomljanović are among those competing in the qualifiers.

Aryna Sabelanka hopes to join Iga Swiatek in a major milestone

World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka is hoping to make history by winning both the Madrid Open and the Italian Open in the same year. These two events are the only WTA 1000 tournaments played on clay. Sabalenka won her third Madrid title last week by beating Coco Gauff in the final.

Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka (3)
Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X)

The Madrid-Rome double has been possible since 2009, which was the first year the Madrid Open was held for women. Only three players have completed this tough clay-court sweep so far.

Dinara Safina was the first, doing it in 2009. She won in Rome before Madrid that year, beating strong opponents like Venus Williams and Svetlana Kuznetsova. She then lifted the Madrid trophy by defeating players such as Li Na and Caroline Wozniacki.

Serena Williams followed in 2013, winning both events while ranked No 1. She dominated her matches in Rome, not dropping a single set. Iga Swiatek was the most recent player to achieve this in 2024. She also went unbeaten in both events, finishing her Rome run with a win over Sabalenka in the final.

Also Read: Jannik Sinner plays down expectations ahead of his return from a three-month doping suspension at the Italian Open