After beating Sorana Cîrstea in straight sets in the R16 of the 2026 Brisbane International, Aryna Sabalenka walked into the press room with the kind of weary smile only a world number one can master - half proud, half drained, fully aware that the season has barely begun and yet already feels endless. Last year, she played 75 matches and won 63 of them. But this year, she has already made a plan to skip a few tournaments.

For months, fans have watched top tennis stars push through a calendar stacked with mandatory events, tight turnarounds, and heavy travel. But seeing the reigning superstar openly criticize the system felt different. During the post-match press conference, Sabalenka was asked if she had any thoughts of skipping any tournaments this year (just like Serena Williams once did) to protect her body. Replying to that, the Belarusian said, “Well, the season is definitely insane, and that's not good for all of us, as you see so many players getting injured, and also the balls are quite heavy, so it's a lot, yeah, a lot of struggle for all of us.”

Aryna Sabalenka also explained that the idea of skipping tournaments - a strategic approach legendary players like Williams once enjoyed is no longer viable in the modern WTA structure. “What Serena did, the rules were different. Right now, like last season, by the end of the season, because I didn't play enough of the 500 events, they fine us with points, me and Iga. So then it's, like, okay if you play seven events, even if you win - okay, if you win all of them, then maybe it's not a big deal. But you cannot predict that I'm going to play seven events, I'm going to win them all, and that's it.” 

In 2025, Sabalenka competed in only three WTA 500 tournaments - Brisbane, Stuttgart, and Berlin. That number alone triggered penalties, despite her strong performances across the season. She wasn’t alone: world number 2 Iga Swiatek faced a similar point deduction. The rules are rigid:

• All 4 Grand Slams
• 10 WTA 1000s (mandatory)
• 6 WTA 500s

Miss them, and you face ranking penalties or financial fines. “The rules are quite tricky with mandatory events, but I'm still doing that, like, I'm skipping couple of events in order to protect my body, because I struggled a lot last season,” Aryna Sabalenka added.

Last year, Sabalenka not only finished the season as the world number one but also won four titles (including the US Open triumph). But there were moments when she had to grind through illness or exhaustion. Speaking more on that, she said, “Even though the results were really consistent, but some of the tournaments I had been playing completely sick, or I've been really exhausted from overplaying.”

Tennis seems to have grown more global now, but players’ bodies have not evolved into superhuman machines. Despite the risk of fines, Aryna Sabalenka has now made it clear that this year she has planned to prioritize her health more than anything else.

“This season we will try to manage it a little bit better, even though they are going to fine me by the end of the season. But it's tricky to do that. You cannot skip like 1000 event. It's really tricky, and I think that's insane what they do. I think they just follow their interests, but they're not focusing on protecting all of us.”

The WTA calendar stretches nearly eleven months. The off-season lasts barely a few weeks. Injuries are piling up across the rankings. Sabalenka’s comments might mark a turning point. When world number one speaks, the sport listens. Other top players like Iga Swiatek have also voiced their concerns about the same multiple times.

Just like Aryna Sabalenka, even Swiatek has already discussed the WTA tournaments she plans to skip in 2026 with her coach, Wim Fissette. Her coach revealed this during an interview on the Program Tenisowy YouTube channel. 

In September Iga Swiatek criticized the tennis schedule for being too demanding, and she labeled it “crazy.” Now, even Sabalenka has opened up on what she feels is a broken system that desperately needs fixing. Amid all of this, she has kept her incredible run intact in Brisbane. What else did she say after the match, though?

Aryna Sabalenka analyzes her match against Sorana Cîrstea

This was Aryna Sabalenka’s third meeting with the Romanian. With this win in Brisbane, Sabalenka has now taken her H2H record to 2-1 against Cîrstea. While sharing her thoughts about this 6-3, 6-3 triumph in the R16, Sabalenka didn’t hide her satisfaction with the win. 

She said, “It was a great match, she played very well; she was pushing hard all the time. I'm happy to have been focused from start to finish. Sorana is a player who can come back at any moment, so you have to stay very focused. Today, I think I did pretty well.”

But when she was asked whether she struggled early on, Sabalenka burst into laughter - a signature sound familiar to anyone who has watched a few of her press conferences. “It's just my face, it's the face I have, I was born with it (laughs). At the beginning of the match, I was struggling a little with the rhythm, trying to find the right rhythm and focus, that's all. I think after a couple of games, I started to play a little better, from there the level kept rising, but I never felt frustrated about anything. I was just trying to figure out my game for this match.”

Her words reflected the maturity she’s developed over the past seasons - less panic, more problem - solving. It’s the kind of mindset that separates champions from contenders. She has now played two matches here and lost only seven games. But despite sheer dominance in the previous two matches, Aryna Sabalenka says, “There is always room for improvement. I’m definitely not at my best right now.”

But can she bring out her best version against the 2025 AO champion Madison Keys in the QF of the 2026 Brisbane International? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section.

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallyTennis. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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