![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2021-09-10T000004Z_549788427_MT1USATODAY16714584_RTRMADP_3_TENNIS-US-OPEN.jpg?width=600)
USA Today via Reuters
Sep 9, 2021; Flushing, NY, USA; Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts after winning a point against Leylah Fernandez of Canada (not pictured) on day eleven of the 2021 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports Image Credit: Reuters
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2021-09-10T000004Z_549788427_MT1USATODAY16714584_RTRMADP_3_TENNIS-US-OPEN.jpg?width=600)
USA Today via Reuters
Sep 9, 2021; Flushing, NY, USA; Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts after winning a point against Leylah Fernandez of Canada (not pictured) on day eleven of the 2021 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports Image Credit: Reuters
The WTA is having a hard time dealing with all the things at the moment. From unequal pay to hosting the finals in Saudi, there were already many things happening around the WTA. To add the cherry to the cake, their recent introduction to improve the game and honor the deserved player has also met with a lot of backfiring. The WTA recently introduced the concept of “performance byes” for the Japan Open and China Open. However, it did not take long for players to spark their work on the issues. Aryna Sabalenka, recently came ahead to talk about the issues related.
While Elena Rybakina got a performance bye at the China Open, Aryna Sabalenka did not approve of the latest method introduced. Rather, she had some of her own amendments to make.
Aryna Sabalenka remains furious over WTA’s recently introduced performance byes
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Elena Rybakina’s recent withdrawal from the Tokyo tournament, citing her prioritization of health and fitness, has sparked discussion within the tennis community. As the Kazakh tennis star prepares to make her return to the court at the China Open, she is set to benefit from performance byes, a topic that has raised eyebrows and concerning issues from players.
Aryna Sabalenka recently has openly voiced her disagreement with the concept of performance byes. According to her receiving such advantages should be earned through consistent performance rather than a single outstanding tournament.
“You have to own these byes. You have to own it by consistency of your game. Not just by playing good at 1 tournament, then you get this advantage. No… you have to deserve it. I don’t understand that. I don’t agree with that,” said Sabalenka while voicing out her opinion on the ongoing debate regarding performance byes.
Aryna Sabalenka says she does not agree with performance byes:
“I knew because they sent an email before, everyone knew about the performance bye, but I didn't understand it. I do not understand that. Players who have byes for having played semi-finals in a lower tournament… pic.twitter.com/yA8G7uDc29
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) October 1, 2023
Thus, the comments sparked by Aryna Sabalenka make it clear that she is not at all satisfied with the ongoing performance byes that have been introduced in the game.
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What are performance byes and who has got it so far?
The concept of performance byes is used in the Japan Open and will be carried forward to Beijing in the China Open. Based on the performance of the players in the Japan Open, they will be given a bye in the first round of the Beijing Open thereby allowing them to participate from the second round onwards. Jessica Pegula and Veronika Kudermetova are some of the players who have been offered byes to the second round itself.
This decision has not been met with full support as there are players who think that is not the correct way of granting the spot in the next round. Thus, players like Aryna Sabalenka express their dissatisfaction over the attempts made by the WTA in regards to introducing the byes system.
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What are your views on the same? Do let us know what your thoughts are in the comments below!
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