Aryna Sabalenka Criticizes Mandatory WTA 1000 Events in Middle East

Aryna Sabalenka will be locking horns with Victoria Mboko in the quarterfinals of Indian Wells.

Aryna Sabalenka Criticizes Mandatory WTA 1000 Events in Middle East

Aryna Sabalenka (Image via Fox Sports)

In Short
  • Aryna Sabalenka criticized the scheduling of mandatory WTA 1000 events immediately following Grand Slams.
  • She believes players should have the option to choose their tournaments to prioritize health and performance.
  • Sabalenka has only won one title in the Middle East Swing, despite being a top-ranked player.

Aryna Sabalenka skipped the WTA 1000 events in the Middle East Swing following her defeat to Elena Rybakina in the final of the Australian Open. Pulling out of both the Doha and Dubai events did not affect her rankings much because she had produced lopsided performances last year, losing in the early rounds of both events.

At present, Sabalenka is competing at the Indian Wells and has made the quarterfinals for the third time in her career. In the fourth round, Sabalenka eliminated Naomi Osaka and tied her head-to-head record to 1-1. At the press conference afterward, the Belarusian criticized the tennis calendar, saying two WTA 1000 events right after the conclusion of a Grand Slam is too much.

I, personally, wouldn’t do any tournaments in February after the Australian Open, but you know, scheduling is a very complicated thing. I would eliminate this obligatory situation, because if you go far in one tournament, physically it is not good for your health to go and play another one because it is mandatory.

Sabalenka has tasted success just once in the Middle East swing. She defeated Petra Kvitova in 2020 in Doha but has yet to reach the semifinals in Dubai.

I would remove this mandatory situation and let the player choose where he wants to compete and play, because if you go far at the Australian Open, it’s too early to play in the Middle East. So I think the mandatory situation is excessive; we have to reduce that number. It’s too much.

Aryna Sabalenka added

In the ongoing event, Sabalenka is a two-time finalist in singles, reaching the stage in 2023 and 2025 and losing to Rybakina and Mirra Andreeva, respectively. The only Sunshine Doubles singles title she has won so far is last year’s Miami Open by defeating Jessica Pegula.

Martina Hingis shares what she would do to beat Aryna Sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka has dominated the top of the rankings table since dethroning Iga Swiatek in 2024. She has been reaching the finals consistently and winning titles.

Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X/HQ Pics)

But in Majors, she has a 4-4 win-loss record and has lost three finals since the 2025 season. And this is why her mental strength has been questioned after her defeats. Last year, she failed to complete the three-peat in Melbourne, losing the final to Madison Keys.

Later at the French Open, Coco Gauff denied her the win. Recently, tennis great Martina Hingis, during the Love All podcast, shared what she would have done to challenge Sabalenka.

Honestly, if I would play Sabalenka, I would try to get into her head. I think that’s my thing. I don’t know, to get as many balls back as possible. We’ve seen that in the past, like Ons Jabeur was able to do that at Wimbledon. Some other players were able to turn around matches… [Karolina] Muchova at the French Open in the semifinals. You shouldn’t give up until the last point is played against a player like that, and try to take that momentum, really, every ball.

At Indian Wells, Sabalenka will next be locking horns with Victoria Mboko, who knocked out two-time Grand Slam finalist Amanda Anisimova. Sabalenka previously met the reigning Canadian Open champion in the fourth round of this year’s Australian Open, which she won.

Last year, apart from the Miami Open, she also won the Madrid Open by defeating Gauff. Before the Australian Open, Sabalenka defended her title at the Brisbane International by defeating Elina Svitolina. The World No.1 has yet to add a big title to her trophy cabinet since winning the 2025 US Open final by beating Anisimova.

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