"I understand the reasoning behind it" - Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina latest players quizzed on WTA's new genetic testing policy

The ongoing Canadian Open is the first real chance to ask the best players in the world what their opinions are on the WTA's new genetic testing policy. So far it has been met with a mixed reception with Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina the next two big names to have their say.

This has been implemented to combat the threat of transgender players competing in the sport. While there has not been a known transgender player competing on tour for half a century, the WTA are looking to clamp down on this with some simple tests to find out if they have traces of male biology.

Already loads of opinions have been thrown out there on this matter. One of tennis's most prominent voices and legends Martina Navratilova has been one of the loudest in her support in favour of it.

Now the current tennis stars are being put on the spot about this. One of the first to speak up was World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka who backed the views of the 18-time Grand Slam champion. "It’s very important to maintain fairness in our circuit,” she said in a press conference. "It’s obvious that, biologically, men are much stronger than women, so it wouldn’t seem fair to me for a woman to compete against a biological man.

“I think it took them a while to make this decision and, yes, I support it. But I’m concentrating on myself, on my goals, on whatever it takes. If you want to test us all, I will gladly do so, it’s pretty fair, and let’s keep it that way.”

As expected, more names are being asked for their opinions on this topic which is sure to spring up more debate and disagreement. Gauff, one of the more outspoken players on the WTA Tour, is not afraid to come out and say what she truly believes in. While being sympathetic to the reasoning that it has been put in place, she fully backed and defended the trans community.

"I understand the reasoning behind it," she said. "I do think that this kind of conversation has created a lot of animosity towards the trans community, which I'm not really a big fan of, but I also understand the need to [account for] the biological difference and the need to protect that and preserve that. So I think it's a conversation that is very nuanced.

"I kind of agree with trying to protect the fairness in women's sports. But I also do not like the attack that it is creating. People who don't really care, but just want to use this as a reason to attack the trans community. So I'm not really a big fan of that either. I don't really know how to answer this question in a way that people aren't going to spin it. But as far as where I stand, I definitely support the trans community, but I also support the need of creating fairness in sport too."

World No.2 Rybakina had a much shorter and briefer answer on this topic, not wanting to divulge too much. “I mean, I don't know what to comment," she stated. "If we got to do it, we will do it. For me, I won't say it's unnecessary, but I think it was without these tests also fine. But if we need to do it, we will do it.”

Both players got off to winning starts at the Canadian Open. Gauff was the more comfortable on court, taking down American qualifier Kayla Day 6-2, 7-5. It was not the most easy going, but for Gauff at least it was good to get her first straight sets win on the board since the opening round of Wimbledon.

For Rybakina, she had a trickier test in the form of former top 10 talent Daria Kasatkina. After the pair ferociously competed on court, a single break of serve mixed with a nervy ending in the third set got the Kazakh back to winning ways following suffering a tricky time as of late on court.

They could be on for a collision course in the semi-final in Toronto if they are able to make it that far as they both fight tooth and nail for a maiden Canadian Open title.