Rather than risk her health, the world number one expects to skip events again this year and possibly face sanctions.
Published January 8, 2026
World number one Aryna Sabalenka has accused tennis authorities of “following their interests” and not putting players’ welfare first in what she called an “insane” tennis season.
The Belarusian player expects to sit out this year’s event rather than risk his health during the season, but is aware that doing so will likely result in sanctions from the WTA Tour, the world number one said on Thursday.
Under WTA regulations, top players are obligated to participate in all four Grand Slam tournaments, 10 WTA1000 tournaments, and six WTA500 tournaments, and penalties for missing can range from ranking point deductions to fines.
In 2025, Sabalenka competed in just three WTA 500 tournaments in Brisbane, Stuttgart and Berlin, becoming one of the top players, including world No. 2 Iga Swiatek, to earn ranking points.
Asked if she would change her plans for 2026, the four-time Grand Slam champion told reporters:
“The rules are very difficult for compulsory events, but I’m still missing some events to protect myself, because last season I struggled so much,” she said after defeating Solana Thurstea at the Brisbane International.
“Even though the results were very consistent, in some of the tournaments I was playing I was completely unwell or overplayed and really exhausted. This season we will try to manage a little better, even if by the end of the season I will be fined.”
“But it’s hard to do that. You can’t skip 1,000 events. It’s really hard and I think what they’re doing is insane. I think they’re just following their own interests, but they’re not focused on protecting all of us.”
The number of events on the tennis calendar has been a frequent complaint in recent months among some of the sport’s biggest names.
Carlos Alcaraz, the men’s world No. 1, has also expressed concerns about the amount of tennis he is playing, although he too has signed up to play in high-paying exhibition matches.
On Saturday, just a week before the Australian Open, he will face his great rival Jannik Sinner in one such event in South Korea.
The men’s and women’s circuits have faced criticism due to their 11-month seasons, and both tours came under renewed scrutiny following a spate of injuries during the “Asian Swing” towards the end of last year.
