The WTA Finals will be held in Cancun, Mexico, this year. One star player is far from happy with the circumstances on site.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka has harshly criticized the women’s tennis organization WTA on the sidelines of the WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico. “I have to say that I am very disappointed with the WTA and my experience at the Finals so far,” the 25-year-old wrote on Instagram.
“As a player, I feel like the WTA doesn’t respect me. I think most players feel the same way,” Sabalenka elaborated. “To be honest, I don’t feel safe at the thought of having to play on this court for a long time. “
Venue not determined until short notice
The reason for Sabalenka’s criticism is the late construction of the sports venue in Cancun and the restrictions that came with it. Among other things, the players were not allowed to train on the court before the start of the tournament. “That’s not acceptable for me when there’s so much at stake,” said Sabalenka, who beat Greece’s Maria Sakkari 6-0, 6-1 in Sunday’s opener.
Cancun had only been officially designated as the venue for the season-ending tournament for the year’s top eight players on September 7. Previously, the WTA had considered holding the event in Saudi Arabia.
