World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has expressed her support for the Women's Tennis Association's (WTA) recently implemented transgender eligibility rules, which include mandatory sex screening for players. Sabalenka stated that these measures are essential for maintaining fairness in women's tennis, highlighting perceived biological differences between men and women.
The new WTA policy requires players to undergo a sex screening for the SRY gene, typically associated with male sex development. Previously, the WTA allowed biological males to compete in the women's category if their testosterone levels remained below a specified threshold. The revised rules mandate that players must pass this SRY gene test to be eligible for the WTA Tour. Further medical assessments will be conducted for any player who initially tests positive, before they can compete against female rivals. Refusal to undergo testing may result in disciplinary action.
Sabalenka affirmed her willingness to undergo such testing herself, stating, "It's very important to maintain fairness in our circuit." She added, "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." She believes the decision was a long time coming and stated, "Yes, I support it."
Sabalenka's comments come after her participation in a 'Battle of the Sexes' exhibition match against Nick Kyrgios in Dubai last December, which she lost. The exhibition drew criticism, with some deeming it a publicity stunt that trivialized the women's game.
Tennis icon Martina Navratilova also voiced her approval of the WTA's new transgender policy. Navratilova, who has been vocal about her views on transgender athletes in women's sports, described the move as a "step in the right direction." She clarified that while she did not influence this specific policy, she is pleased that the WTA is making it clear that it is a women's association and that only females can compete at the highest level of women's tennis.
Other sports organizations have also introduced similar eligibility measures. World Boxing and World Athletics have implemented comparable testing for athletes seeking to compete in their respective women's categories. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has also announced plans to conduct sex testing for athletes in preparation for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.