Aryna Sabalenka Plans to Skip Mandatory Events in 2026 to Avoid Exhaustion: “WTA is Not Focused on Protecting Us”
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka is aiming to reach the Brisbane International final for the third consecutive time.
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Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X/HQ Pics)
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The 2026 WTA season got underway in different cities in Australia in the first week of January. World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka is in Brisbane, participating in the WTA 500 tournament.
She commenced her campaign in an emphatic fashion, going past Cristina Bucsa 6-0, 6-1 in her opening round, following which, she registered a 6-3, 6-3 win over Sorana Cirstea to progress to the quarterfinals. At the press conference after her win, Sabalenka was asked to comment on the long 11-month calendar and whether she wants to follow in the footsteps of Serena Williams by skipping some tournaments in the height of her career.
The season is definitely crazy, and that’s not good for any of us, because there are so many players getting injured. The balls are also quite heavy, so it’s really tough. But what Serena did… the rules were different. Right now, like last season, at the end of the year, because I didn’t play enough 500 events, they fine us on points. It happened to both me and Iga [Swiatek]… The rules are quite complicated with the mandatory events, but I will still skip a couple to protect my body, because I struggled a lot last season.
Aryna Sabalenka said
There are a total of 14 mandatory tournaments in a WTA season- four Grand Slams and 10 WTA 1000s. Then the players also have to feature in at least six WTA 500 events.
Even though the results have been really consistent, there have been some tournaments where I’ve been completely sick or really exhausted from playing too much. This season, we’ll try to manage that a little better, even though I know I’ll be fined at the end of the year. The fact that you can’t skip a 1,000-point event is crazy. I think they’re just looking out for their own interests. They’re not focused on protecting all of us.
Aryna Sabalenka added
Last year, Sabalenka skipped two WTA 1000 events, the Canadian Open and the China Open. She finished the season with two titles in this category, which she lifted at the Miami Open and the Madrid Open.
Aryna Sabalenka eyes revenge on Madison Keys
In the quarterfinals of the Brisbane International, Aryna Sabalenka will next be locking horns with Madison Keys. It was the American who denied the Belarusian a three-peat at the Australian Open with a three-set win in the final. Sabalenka got her revenge in the Indian Wells semifinal to improve her head-to-head record to 5-2.
If we’re talking specifically about our clashes, after the Australian Open, we played in Indian Wells, and I got my revenge. But here, specifically in Australia, obviously, I’d like to get another one. It’ll be a great battle, she plays really aggressive tennis. I’m excited to face her.
Aryna Sabalenka said at the press conference
Prior to scheduling the clash with the four-time Grand Slam champion, Keys eked out a three-set win over Diana Shnaider. Last year, apart from the Melbourne Major, Keys also lifted the ASB Classic Down Under.
Sabalenka, also the defending champion in Brisbane, went past Polina Kudermetova in the final last year. The 27-year-old also made the final in Brisbane in 2024 but failed to go past 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.
Last year, Sabalenka finished the season with four titles she lifted from nine finals. One title also includes the US Open, which she defended by defeating Amanda Anisimova.
Apart from the Australian Open and the US Open, Sabalenka also progressed to the championship clashes of the French Open but suffered a heartbreaking three-set defeat at the hands of Coco Gauff. She also made the title clash of the WTA Finals for the second time in her singles career, but lost the title to Rybakina.
Also read: Mirra Andreeva Gets Real About ‘Impossible’ Expectations After Brisbane Win
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