{"id":2074092,"date":"2026-08-02T20:19:58","date_gmt":"2026-08-02T17:19:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2074092"},"modified":"2026-08-02T20:19:58","modified_gmt":"2026-08-02T17:19:58","slug":"aryna-sabalenka-backs-controversial-wta-transgender-policy-lets-keep-it-that-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2074092","title":{"rendered":"Aryna Sabalenka backs controversial WTA transgender policy &#8211; &#8216;Let&#8217;s keep it that way&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"ps-article-content rounded-lg lg:mt-5 lg:border lg:border-card lg:bg-card lg:shadow-primary\">\n<header>\n<h1 class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\">Aryna Sabalenka backs controversial WTA transgender policy \u2013 \u2018Let\u2019s keep it that way\u2019<\/h1>\n<div class=\"my-2 flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/author\/oliver-paton\" class=\"text-sm font-normal !text-author\"><br \/>\n                            Oliver Paton                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <time class=\"ml-3 text-sm font-normal text-info md:ml-4\" datetime=\"02 Aug 2026 9:19 PM\" data-ps-date=\"02 Aug 2026 9:19 PM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1785701998\"><br \/>\n                            02 Aug 2026 9:19 PM                        <\/time>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"hidden justify-end space-x-4 text-xl sm:flex sm:!opacity-100\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on 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to flipboard\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"sm:hidden flex items-center space-x-5\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 dark:hidden h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_light.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <button id=\"t365-article-share-btn-hidden\" class=\"mr-2 hidden h-6 w-6 appearance-none border-none !text-share-icon outline-none hover:!text-share-icon-active sm:hidden\" data-title=\"Aryna Sabalenka backs controversial WTA transgender policy \u2013 \u2018Let\u2019s keep it that way\u2019\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5 border-b border-page\"><\/div>\n<section>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5\">\n<figure class=\"aspect-h-9 aspect-w-16 relative\">\n                                        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"742\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover object-center !my-0\" src=\"https:\/\/d2me2qg8dfiw8u.cloudfront.net\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/resizeplus_3F5JT8J-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Sabalenka\">                <\/figure><figcaption class=\"flex items-center space-x-3 border-b border-mobile-caption px-3 lg:border-caption\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-1.5 break-words !text-xs !text-content\">\n                                Aryna Sabalenka in Canada                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\"><!-- Article Start --><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/aryna-sabalenka\">Aryna Sabalenka<\/a> has backed the WTA\u2019s controversial new rule requiring all players to undergo sex testing before being eligible to compete professionally, while also revealing she went \u2018back to basics\u2019 following her Wimbledon defeat.<\/p>\n<p>The Belarusian has enjoyed a mixed 2026 season, reaching the Australian Open final and winning titles at both Indian Wells and Miami before suffering a quarter-final exit at the French Open to conclude a disappointing clay-court campaign.<\/p>\n<p>Most recently, she lost 6-2, 7-6(2) to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/naomi-osaka\">Naomi Osaka<\/a> in the fourth round of Wimbledon, despite having won their previous three meetings earlier this season.<\/p>\n<p>However, the world No 1 will now look to bounce back during the North American hard-court swing, beginning at the Canadian Open, which runs from August 2 \u2013 13.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes, I have a lot of hope (laughs),\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/aryna-sabalenka\">Sabalenka<\/a> responded when asked during her pre-tournament press conference whether she felt confident heading into the North American hard-court season.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI wouldn\u2019t say the clay and grass were that bad. I was trying a couple of things, but they didn\u2019t come out as I expected, and now we\u2019re back to basics. I really hope it works well again on the hard court.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Latest Tennis News<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/atp-tour\/david-ferrer-compares-rafael-jodar-rafael-nadal-issues-carlos-alcaraz-comeback-verdict\">David Ferrer compares Rafael Jodar to Rafael Nadal and issues Carlos Alcaraz comeback verdict<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/roger-federers-former-coach-hails-alex-eala-naomi-osaka-masterclass\">Roger Federer\u2019s former coach hails Alex Eala after Naomi Osaka masterclass<\/a><\/p>\n<p>After several months on clay and grass, Sabalenka will welcome a return to her favoured hard courts.<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, all four of her Grand Slam titles have come on the surface \u2013 the Australian Open in 2023 and 2024, and the US Open in 2024 and 2025.<\/p>\n<p>The Belarusian also has an excellent opportunity to extend her lead at the top of the rankings, having not competed in Canada last season.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a routine [returning to hard courts],\u201d she analysed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a lot of rallies, a lot of basic work, like cross-court shots. I don\u2019t know, it\u2019s like going back to a very small variety of the game. I don\u2019t get too into these angles, drop shots, like the serve and volley, I just get back into the game from the back of the court, I make sure I have a lot of confidence there. And on top of that, I add some variety.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Aside from discussing her preparations for the hard-court swing, Sabalenka was also asked for her views on the WTA\u2019s newly introduced genetic sex-testing policy.<\/p>\n<p>According to the WTA, the new rule will come into effect on Tuesday, with players able to undergo a one-time test for the SRY gene \u2013 which helps determine biological sex \u2013 using either a cheek swab or a blood test.<\/p>\n<p>The policy replaces the WTA\u2019s previous eligibility rules, under which transgender women could compete after declaring their gender as female and maintaining testosterone below the required threshold for at least two years before playing professionally.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s very important to maintain fairness in our circuit,\u201d she began.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s obvious that, biologically, men are much stronger than women, so it wouldn\u2019t seem fair to me for a woman to compete against a biological man.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think it took them a while to make this decision and, yes, I support it. But I\u2019m concentrating on myself, on my goals, on whatever it takes. If you want to test us all, I will gladly do so, it\u2019s pretty fair, and let\u2019s keep it that way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As well as attempting to defend her US Open title in four weeks\u2019 time, Sabalenka will also compete in the mixed doubles event alongside 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI hope everyone is healthy this time (laughs), I\u2019m very excited,\u201d she noted.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think It\u2019s going to be fun. Playing with Novak is always fun. Mixed doubles, I played it once in my life, I mean the Grand Slams, and we\u2019re going to give it our all, you know, we\u2019re just going for the title, that\u2019s our goal, I think, so it\u2019s going to be fun and intense.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><!-- Article End --><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Aryna Sabalenka backs controversial WTA transgender policy \u2013 \u2018Let\u2019s keep it that way\u2019 Oliver Paton 02 Aug 2026 9:19 PM Aryna Sabalenka in Canada Aryna Sabalenka has backed the WTA\u2019s controversial new rule requiring all players to undergo sex testing before being eligible to compete professionally, while also revealing she went \u2018back to basics\u2019 following [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,249],"class_list":["post-2074092","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tennis365-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2074092","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2074092"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2074092\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2074092"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2074092"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2074092"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}