TENNIS: Sabalenka to skip events in 2026 to prioritise her health

Aryna Sabalenka plans to skip tournaments again this year rather than risk her health during what she calls an “insane” season, even though she may face sanctions from the WTA Tour, the world number one said.

Under WTA rules, top players are required to compete in all four Grand Slams, ten WTA 1000 tournaments, and six WTA 500 events. Missing mandatory events can result in ranking point deductions or fines.

In 2025, Sabalenka played in only three WTA 500 events—Brisbane, Stuttgart, and Berlin—making her one of several high-ranked players, including world number two Iga Swiatek, to have ranking points docked.

When asked if she would change her plans for 2026, the four-time Grand Slam champion told reporters:

"The season is definitely insane, and that's not good for all of us, as you see so many players getting injured. The rules are quite tricky with mandatory events, but I'm still skipping a couple events to protect my body because I struggled a lot last season."

Sabalenka, speaking after her win over Sorana Cirstea at the Brisbane International, added:

"Even though my results were consistent, in some tournaments I was completely sick or really exhausted from overplaying. This season, we will try to manage it a little better, even though they are going to fine me by the end of the season. It's tricky—you cannot skip 1000 events. It's really insane what they do. I think they just follow their interests, but they’re not focusing on protecting all of us."

Both the men’s and women’s circuits have faced criticism for their nearly year-round schedules. The tours came under renewed scrutiny during the “Asian swing” late last year as injuries piled up.

In September, the WTA told Reuters that athlete welfare is a top priority. The organization said it had listened to player feedback through the players’ council and board representatives to improve the calendar structure in 2024 and boost compensation.

-Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford/Reuters