Madrid Open: Aryna Sabalenka Sparks Fresh Controversy with Her Bizarre Preference for Men’s Tennis over the WTA Tour

Within the vibrant world of tennis fans, preferences frequently influence the way one experiences the sport. Some are drawn to the competitive rallies of men’s tennis, while others appreciate the tactical dexterity of women’s matches. Such is the case with Aryna Sabalenka, the 25-year-old tennis prodigy whose prowess on the court is equaled only by her acute eye as a spectator.

In a recent admission that stunned tennis enthusiasts and commentators alike, Sabalenka pulled back the curtains on her personal viewing choices and provided an insight into her own psyche while watching tennis. The Grand Slam champion’s admission came across as unexpected despite her prominence as a dominant force in women’s tennis.

Aryna Sabalenka chooses between ATP and WTA 

In Madrid, Aryna Sabalenka is preparing to defend her title. The tennis player from Belarus made a startling declaration in a recent interview with the media before the Madrid Open, stating that she considers the ATP circuit more “entertaining” than the WTA competition. She stated, “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).”

As a WTA player herself who brings competition and has her own following among tennis fans, her preferences are quite different than expected, leaving everyone surprised. In addition, the 25-year-old tennis star highlighted that she rarely watches matches involving her well-known competitors, Elena Rybakina and Iga Swiatek.

This revelation illuminates the world number 2 tennis player’s distinct strategy for competing, highlighting her concentration on her own game as opposed to paying close attention to the results of her rivals. “I don’t watch their games, no: I feel that I have played enough against them and that, if I compare myself to either of the two again, my coach will show me images of their games to analyze them and prepare me,” she added. 

On the other hand, when it comes to her preferred time to play tennis, earlier this year during the Australian Open, she gave her honest opinion on the matter.

Sabalenka prefers to finish tennis matches on the same day 

Following the late conclusion of Medvedev’s second-round match in AO, the 25-year-old said that she would rather finish her matches late than resume the match on a later date. Sabalenka went on to say that she has no preferences because every match, whether it be early in the morning or late at night, has advantages and disadvantages.

She stated, “I don’t know what I prefer, actually. I like to play late matches because then it’s more people watching it, the atmosphere is incredible. At the same time, I like to play first match because if you win you start earlier, you win and you go and do whatever you want to do.”

Does Sabalenka’s preference for the ATP tour over the WTA come across as a shock? Let us know in the comment section below.