“Can you not report this correctly?”: Martina Navratilova reacts after Aryna Sabalenka’s comments spark controversy
WTAThursday, 06 August 2026 at 02:30
Martina Navratilova has entered the discussion surrounding Aryna Sabalenka’s recent comments on the WTA’s new gender policy, but not to criticize the world No. 1’s position. Instead, the 18-time Grand Slam champion took aim at the way Sabalenka’s remarks were presented, accusing the Toronto Sun of framing the story inaccurately.
The controversy emerged after the Canadian publication shared an article with the headline “Tennis star Aryna Sabalenka joins Sophie Cunningham, supports banning transgender athletes.”
The wording immediately attracted attention, with Navratilova arguing that it did not accurately represent what the Belarusian said during her pre-tournament press conference.
Sabalenka addressed the topic ahead of the Canadian Open in Toronto, where she expressed support for the WTA’s new mandatory gender policy and said she believed additional testing would help maintain fairness in women’s tennis. However, she did not specifically mention transgender athletes during her comments, something Navratilova highlighted in her criticism.
Navratilova calls out Toronto Sun over Sabalenka headline
The former world No. 1’s reaction added another layer to an already sensitive discussion surrounding the future of women’s sports.
Navratilova responded directly on social media after seeing the Toronto Sun’s headline, questioning the way the publication connected Sabalenka’s comments with the broader debate around transgender athletes.
“Can you not report this correctly???? Aryna never mentioned trans anything. And no trans athlete is banned from sports. Try again, Toronto Sun!!!!” Navratilova wrote.
Can you not report this correctly???? Aryna never mentioned trans anything. And no trans athlete is banned from sports. Try again, Toronto Sun!!!!
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) August 5, 2026
The American legend has previously been involved in discussions about transgender participation in sports, making her reaction notable given that she was not challenging Sabalenka’s support for testing, but rather the interpretation placed on her words.
Sabalenka’s comments came after the WTA introduced a new mandatory gender policy that requires players to undergo genetic testing as part of the organization’s regulations.
The world No. 1 said she supported the move and would have no issue complying with the process herself. “It is really important to keep fairness on our tour,” Sabalenka said during her press conference in Toronto. “It is obvious that, biologically, the men are way stronger than women, so I feel like it would be not really fair for a woman to compete against a biological man.”
The four-time Grand Slam champion added that she believed the decision was necessary to protect fairness in women’s tennis and said she would accept being tested if required. “If they want to test us all, I’m happy to do that. It’s pretty fair and let’s keep it that way,” Sabalenka said during the Canadian Open press conference.
Sabalenka backs WTA testing policy ahead of Canadian Open
The comments continued a conversation that had already surrounded the world No. 1 earlier this year after her participation in the Battle of the Sexes exhibition match against Nick Kyrgios. Sabalenka discussed the topic during promotional appearances before the event, including an interview with Piers Morgan, where she explained her views on physical differences between men and women in sport.
"That's a tricky question," Sabalenka replied to Morgan, adding, "I have nothing to do against them. But I feel like they still got a huge advantage over the women and I think it's not fair on women to face basically biological men."
"You know, it's not fair," she continued. "The women been working their whole life to reach their limit, and then she has to face a man [who is] biologically much stronger. So for me, I don't agree with this kind of stuff in sport."
Sabalenka, meanwhile, has already begun her Canadian Open campaign with a convincing victory. The world No. 1 defeated Moyuka Uchijima 6-3, 6-3 in her opening match in Toronto, continuing her return to hard-court competition after the grass-court swing. She will now face veteran Shuai Zhang in the third round after the Chinese player advanced when Jelena Ostapenko was forced to retire due to injury.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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