The world’s number one tennis player, Aryna Sabalenka, has expressed her position on the participation of transgender women in the women’s tennis circuit. The Belarusian player believes that allowing transgender women to compete in the women’s circuit could create an “unfair advantage” for them.
Statements in a Podcast
Sabalenka’s statements were made in a podcast with Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios, prior to the “Battle of the Sexes”, an exhibition match scheduled for December 28 in Dubai. During the conversation, Sabalenka was asked about the current debate surrounding the participation of transgender women in women’s competitions.Kyrgios supported Sabalenka’s opinion, stating that the tennis player “hit the nail on the head” with her analysis. According to WTA regulations, a transgender woman can compete on the circuit if she has declared her female gender identity for at least four years and maintains testosterone levels below the established threshold for the two previous years. Sabalenka, current world number one and winner of four Grand Slam titles, will face Kyrgios in one of the few mixed exhibition matches in the history of professional tennis. The format will be best of three sets, with a super tie-break if it goes to a third set. In addition, each player will have only one serve, and the side of the court assigned to Sabalenka will be reduced to balance the duel against the Australian’s service power.It’s a difficult question and I have nothing against them, but I feel they would have a big advantage over the rest. I don’t think it’s fair for women to face biological men. A woman may have worked her whole life to compete at the highest level and facing someone biologically stronger is not fair
Aryna Sabalenka
