Sabalenka weighs in on performance byes: “You have to deserve it”
World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka is opposed to the “performance byes” being used on the Asian swing of the WTA Tour this year
Aryna Sabalenka Zuma / Panoramic
One of the topics catching headlines this week on the WTA Tour has been the use of “performance byes” in the Asian swing, which has caught several players off guard ahead of the China Open in Beijing.
After Elena Rybakina spoke out against them and withdrew from the Tokyo WTA 250 tournament last week, world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka has now expressed her views on performance byes as well.
Sabalenka believes players should earn byes through their ranking
Speaking to the media in Beijing this week, the Aryna Sabalenka had this to say:
“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 receive a bye in a 1000 tournament, I don’t understand it.
“I think you have to earn those byes,” continued the Belarusian. “You have to do it for the consistency of your game, not just for playing well in a tournament, so you get this advantage. You have to deserve it, that’s why I don’t understand it and I don’t agree. I’m happy for the players who made it, but I think this is not acceptable.
“I hope the same thing doesn’t happen again later. It would be understandable if it went from 1000 in Guadalajara to 1000 here, but not from 500 tournaments to 1000 tournaments.”
Playing in her first tournament since the US Open, Sabalenka did not receive a performance bye at the China Open. However, she safely navigated her first round match, defeating American Sofia Kenin 6-1, 6-2.
