Aryna Sabalenka supports controversial WTA rule on sex testing.

Aryna Sabalenka did not hesitate to support the new and controversial WTA policy that requires all players to undergo sex tests before they can compete professionally. This statement comes in the context of a mixed season for the Belarusian tennis player, who, after a defeat in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon, is preparing for the next phase of her career on the circuit.

Sabalenka, currently ranked number 1 in the world, had an impressive start to 2026, reaching the final of the Australian Open and winning titles in Indian Wells and Miami. However, her clay court campaign was less satisfactory, culminating in an early exit at Roland Garros. Recently, she lost to Naomi Osaka at Wimbledon, a surprising result considering she had won all three previous matches against the Japanese player this season.

In her press conference ahead of the Canadian tournament, where she will begin her preparation for the hard court season, Sabalenka expressed optimism: “Yes, I have a lot of hope (laughs). I wouldn’t say that the clay and grass were that bad. I was trying some things, but they didn’t turn out as I expected, and now we are going back to the basics. I hope it works well again on hard court.” The Belarusian player, who did not compete in Canada last season, sees this as a valuable opportunity to extend her lead in the rankings.

Regarding the new WTA rule, which will come into effect next Tuesday, Sabalenka commented: “It is very important to maintain fairness in our circuit. It is obvious that, biologically, men are much stronger than women, so it wouldn’t seem fair to me for a woman to compete against a biological man.” The player expressed her support for the policy, which replaces previous rules that allowed trans women to compete after declaring their gender identity and maintaining testosterone levels below the stipulated limit for two years.

Sabalenka did not limit herself to discussing the policy; she also expressed her excitement about participating in mixed doubles alongside the famous Novak Djokovic at the US Open, stating that she is “looking forward” to the experience. The Belarusian player emphasized: “I hope everyone is healthy this time (laughs), I’m very excited. Playing with Novak is always fun. Our goal is to fight for the title, and it’s going to be intense.” With a new approach and fierce competition ahead, Sabalenka is determined to reclaim her place at the top of women's tennis.