Aryna Sabalenka made headlines by airing her complaints about the ‘insane’ WTA Tour schedule while at the Brisbane International.
The world number one complained about the sheer amount of mandatory tournaments the top players were expected to play.
Sabalenka has sailed through in the Brisbane International, but she has confirmed that she will play far less tournaments in 2026 than she did in 2025, even if that means she will get sanctioned by the WTA.
Fellow WTA Tour star Elena Rybakina has chimed in with her thoughts on the schedule following Sabalenka’s complaints.
Elena Rybakina is in agreement with Aryna Sabalenka on schedule complaints
Rybakina was asked about Sabalenka’s comments following her Brisbane International loss to Karolina Muchova.
The world number five supported her fellow WTA star, and appeared disenfranchised with the entire situation.
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“Well, definitely of course we all want to have more freedom also of choosing what play, what not to play, because if not, you get fined,” she said in her press conference.
“You’re kind of forced to play most of the tournaments, so it is not ideal. I think if the schedule will be different, people would come, and you don’t need to force anyone to play so many tournaments.
“But since it’s like so tough on the body and it’s again a lot of tournaments, of course it’s not easy to show same good result, be healthy all the time.
“So of course I agree on that, but it’s topic which we have for a long time, and I don’t see much changing.”
Rybakina will next be in action at the Australian Open, which she is yet to win in her career. The star reached the final in 2023, but lost to Sabalenka.
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Rybakina was the favourite for her quarter-final clash with Muchova and many were expecting the world number five to set up a final four match with Sabalenka.
That was not to be as Muchova ran out a winner in three sets, defeating Rybakina 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 in Brisbane.
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Rybakina puts the loss down to ring rust after a lengthy off-season between the culmination of the WTA Finals and the Brisbane International.
She said: “I’m not the kind of person who practices and straightaway get going on tournaments. I need some matches under my belt to feel more confident.
“Of course you take some time off, you start working on some things. Physically you are improving, so you need to bring everything also on the court.
“So it is different definitely, but I think in the long run, it’s just positive, a question when it’s going to click, everything.
“Yeah, hopefully it’s going to be on the slams, and hopefully I can do now good in Melbourne. But again, it’s the whole season of opportunities.”
Rybakina is a former winner at the Brisbane International, having beaten Sabalenka in the final of the 2024 event.
