WTA Finals players feel ‘disrespected’ by event’s poor organisation, says Aryna Sabalenka

World number 1 Aryna Sabalenka has strongly criticized the poorly organized WTA Finals in Mexico, expressing her discontent and stating that she and other top players in the sport feel “disrespected” at this major end-of-season tournament.

The WTA Finals, which showcases the top eight players in women’s tennis competing for the last title of the year, is governed by the WTA, the sport’s regulatory body.

Unfortunately, the Finals have been plagued by controversies and disruptions in recent years. In 2019, despite the lucrative deal signed with Shenzhen, the tournament was canceled due to Covid-19, and it has not been resumed since the WTA decided not to hold events in China over the disappearance of Peng Shuai.

In each of the past three years, the host city for the Finals has been decided on very short notice. Last year, Guadalajara hosted the event before it moved to Fort Worth in Texas, where poor attendance and numerous empty seats were largely attributed to the organizers’ shortcomings.

Similar problems have arisen this year, with Cancun being announced as the host city for the Finals only two months prior to the event. Furthermore, the tournament is being held in a temporary arena, receiving criticism. Sabalenka expressed her frustration that she could only practice on the court for the first time on the day before her opening match, deeming it “unacceptable.”

Following her dominant 6-0 6-1 victory over Maria Sakkai, Sabalenka took to Instagram to address her satisfaction in “overcoming the conditions” to secure an opening win. However, she continued by expressing her disappointment and discontent with the WTA and the overall experience at the Finals:

“This level of organization is not up to our expectations for the Finals. To be honest, I often feel unsafe on this court as the bounce is inconsistent, and we were only able to practice on it for the first time yesterday. With so much at stake, this is simply not acceptable to me.”

Earlier this season, there were reports that Saudi Arabia expressed an interest in hosting this year’s WTA Finals. The one-year contract with Cancun leaves the possibility open for a potential move to Saudi Arabia in 2024. However, hosting an event in Saudi Arabia is a controversial topic given the country’s record on women’s and LGBTQ+ rights, attracting significant scrutiny.

The Independent has reached out to the WTA for comment.