Aryna Sabalenka clarifies comments on Cancun conditions after winning WTA Finals return

Aryna Sabalenka took to Instagram following a dominant display at the GNP Seguros WTA Finals Cancun to clarify comments she had made in her post-match press conference on Sunday.

“I'm happy that I was able to stay focused tonight, overcome the conditions, and play well,” the world No. 1 wrote after a 6-0, 6-1 demolition of No. 8 seed Maria Sakkari. “I have to say though that I am very disappointed with the WTA and the experience so far at the WTA Finals. As I said in my press conference tonight, as a player I really feel disrespected by the WTA. I think most of us do. This is not the level of organization we expect for the Finals.

“To be honest, I don't feel safe moving on this court a lot of the time, the bounce is not consistent at all, and we weren't able to practice on this court until yesterday for the first time. It's just not acceptable to me with so much on the line and so much at stake.”

The top seed in Cancun, Sabalenka expressed dismay at the slap-dash nature of the venue, particularly by the fact that the Estadio Paradisus was only complete the weekend before round-robin action began.

“Well, I'm not happy that we couldn't practice on the match court, meaning like on the stadium,” she said during her Media Day interview. “I think this is not the level for the WTA Finals. We literally have one hour today, like 45 minutes, to try the stadium. This is something what I'm not happy with. I'm pretty sure the rest of the players also not happy.”

She raised the issue more forcefully in her post-match press conference despite a 74-minute win over Sakkari, one which she was a point from winning 6-0, 6-0.

“It's another level of disrespect from the WTA for the players, because sometimes they don't even feel safe to move on this court. That's not the level I expect from the WTA Finals,” she said before adding sarcastically, “And I mean, I'm happy. I mean, thank you, thank you for this challenge I'm facing right now to kind of like learn how to adapt quick to the conditions. Thank you for that. But this is not something I expect from the such a high- level tournament. And I'm really happy that I'm able to ignore all this and, and do everything I can to win, win, win every point I play.”

The reigning Australian Open fan sought to smooth things over on social media, affirming that her frustration was neither with the tournament itself nor the enthusiastic fans who nonetheless flocked to Cancun, but instead with the tour for its late decision to pick a host venue for its centerpiece event.

“I definitely want to show my appreciation for the local tournament organizers, everyone that built the court at the last minute, and everyone that's working here at the event,” she wrote. “I know it's not their fault and I want them to know, as well as all the Mexican fans, that I love them and appreciate them. I'm very happy to be in Mexico, I'm just upset with the WTA and this situation.”

Runner-up when the event was held in Fort Worth, Texas in 2022, Sabalenka will aim to clinch her spot in the semifinals of the WTA Finals for a second straight season. She will next face Jessica Pegula when Bacaclar Group play resumes Tuesday.