Aryna Sabalenka shares her honest opinion on the WTA’s transgender policy before the US Open – saying, “Men are generally stronger than women.”
Aryna Sabalenka recently shared her thoughts on the new genetic sex-testing rule in women’s tennis.
In just a few weeks, the US Open will kick off in Queens, New York City, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. As the tournament approaches, people are talking a lot about some of the game’s top players like Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu, who are both hoping to play despite injuries.
Alongside that, there’s also buzz about the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) introducing a new rule starting Tuesday. This rule requires players to take a one-time genetic test to check for the SRY gene, which helps confirm biological sex. The test can be done with a simple cheek swab or blood sample.
Before, transgender women were allowed to compete as long as they identified as female and kept their testosterone levels low for at least two years. The new rule has sparked a lot of debate — some people don’t like it, while others think it’s a good move.
When asked what she thinks, Sabalenka, the current world No. 1, said she supports the new testing because fairness is very important in tennis. She explained, “It’s clear that men are naturally stronger than women, so it wouldn’t feel right to have a biological man compete against women. I think it took some time to make this decision, and I’m in favor of it. I’m focusing on my own goals, and if everyone needs to get tested, that’s fair to me.”
Right now, there are no known transgender women playing on the WTA Tour. The new rules follow a similar step taken by World Boxing in May 2025, which also started requiring the SRY test for women athletes.
Sabalenka’s views come just months after she played against Nick Kyrgios in a “Battle of the Sexes” exhibition match in Dubai. Before that game, she said men generally have a big advantage in tennis. She said, “Women work so hard to reach their best, but going up against biological men isn’t really fair.” After the match, she added that playing a man felt very different and intense.
Overall, Sabalenka supports keeping the sport fair and exciting for all players.