"I play against all of them": Aryna Sabalenka clarifies preferring men's to women's tennis after perceived damaging comments

Aryna Sabalenka said that she didn't mean to offend anyone after comments in which she said she prefers men's tennis over women's tennis to watch. Asked after she defeated Magda Linette in a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win, she said that it was mainly due to the fact that she plays a myriad of these top names on a weekly basis so they are her rivals.

Instead of in men's tennis where she doesn't face any of them. She added that it's more fun in her mind than watching her future opponents. She began her Madrid Open title defence by defeating Linette in a tough tie with Linette reaching the final in Rouen in the previous week, next up is a tad easier realistically in Katie Boulter or Robin Montgomery.

“I didn't want to damage women's tennis, no. Listen, I mean, we are doing our best and, great, there are lots of great matches," said Sabalenka as per Punto de Break. "I don't like to watch it just because I play against all of them, and I just want to kind of like change the picture, and because I watch lots of women's tennis before I go to the match, I watch my opponents, I watch lots of women’s tennis.

"It's not like I don't like it or like I try to offend what I do, you know. I was just trying to say that because I'm playing there and it's too much for me, I'm just trying to watch men's tennis. For me, it's more fun than watching probably my future opponents in the tournament.”

“I’m not one to watch a lot of tennis, I prefer to watch men’s tennis than women’s, I feel there’s more logic and it’s more interesting to watch,” said Sabalenka in her initial comments. But Sabalenka also disparaged her current form during the same interview.

“I feel like I’ve lowered the level a little within this hypothetical’ Big Three’, this last month feels more like a Big Two,” she said with a smile. "However, I’m happy to be part of this group and these things. They continue to play like this. I don’t watch their games, no: I feel like I’ve played against them a lot and that, if I face one of them again, my coach will show me images of the games to analyze and prepare me. I don’t think it’s about having confidence, it’s about being ready to achieve everything. The important thing is to be ready and prepared for big battles."