“It is truly disheartening to observe that event organizers and the competitions themselves are failing to safeguard us as athletes. Their sole focus appears to be on their revenue streams and the event’s success, nothing more.
“I am uncertain if I will ever wish to compete there again after his statement. For me, it crosses a boundary.”
Sabalenka claimed the championship at Indian Wells on Sunday, marking her initial tournament victory since her loss in the Australian Open final back in January.
“Approaching this season, we made the decision… to prioritize my well-being and ensure we integrate these brief intervals into the schedule where I can recover, revitalize, train, and be better prepared for major tournaments,” explained Sabalenka, who is set to contest her Miami Open title defense this week.
“I sense that the fixture list is becoming unmanageable, which accounts for the high number of injured players, constantly bandaged and unable to deliver peak performances because it is almost impossible.”
American two-time Grand Slam winner Coco Gauff commented: “Iga and Aryna have participated in that particular event numerous times, and there was nothing personal about it.”
“It’s difficult. We are striving our utmost to adhere to the competition schedule. I completely grasp why she would feel that way, as the remarks were uncalled for.”
Athletes have frequently expressed worries about the excessively crowded tennis calendar, which extends over eleven months of the year for leading players.
