Madrid Open: After Intense Backlash, Aryna Sabalenka Makes U-turn Over Her Controversial Comments on Women’s Tennis

Aryna Sabalenka recently found herself under a lot of backlash from the fans. Known as one of the most dominating women’s tennis players, the Bulgarian tennis star stole the spotlight yet again. But this time, it was not due to her exceptional gameplay.  Coming into the Madrid Open, the current world number 2 player, in a recent interview came ahead and made her preferences clear regarding whom she loves to watch play the sport.

Sabalenka suggested that she prefers to watch men’s tennis more than women’s tennis as she finds it more captivating to watch. “I’m not someone who watches too much tennis; I prefer to watch men’s tennis rather than women’s tennis; I feel that there is more logic and it is more interesting to see (laughs),” said Sabalenka in an interview. However, little did she know that it would eventually land her deep into the waters.

The amount of hatred that she got after her statements was immense. However, in a recent bid to prove her innocence, she came ahead and suggested that she did not mean to disrespect women’s tennis. Being a professional WTA athlete herself, she spends most of her time studying her opponents. So, while she finds some spare time, she likes to indulge in men’s tennis.

“I didn’t mean to disparage women’s tennis, I just find it more fun to watch the men play because I spend a lot of time studying my opponents, so then in my free time I don’t want to see the girls I play against again,” said Aryna Sabalenka in an interview during the Madrid Open.

Thus Sabalenka, who has mostly been in the news for her dominating gameplay saw herself on the the wrong side of the media. However, she was quick to clarify her words and made sure that she was clearly heard after her statements.

While Aryna Sabalenka made it clear that she does not prefer to watch women’s tennis that much, it hasn’t always been the case for her. Growing up, she used to follow her idols Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova and used to take inspiration from them.

Aryna Sabalenka used to watch women’s tennis while growing up

In an interview a long time back, Aryna Sabalenka came ahead and suggested that she used to watch women’s tennis growing up. Not only this, she also admitted that she was a huge Serena Williams fan growing up.

“Actually when I was growing up I was watching more Serena Williams’ matches and also Maria Sharapova. But my impression, because she won the four Grand Slams in one year, right? She was a great player and I would like to say like nobody could beat her and she was the toughest one,” said Sabalenka in the interview.

Thus, Aryna Sabalenka, who surrounded herself with controversy after her remarks over men’s tennis used to be a die-hard Serena Williams match as she was the toughest one around in the whole tour at one point.