During a press conference at the Canadian Open in Montreal on August 4, 2026, Belarusian tennis star Aryna Sabalenka expressed strong support for the Women's Tennis Association's (WTA) recently implemented transgender eligibility rules. Sabalenka emphasized the need to maintain fairness in the sport, stating, "I think it's really important to keep the fairness in our tour."

Addressing biological differences, she remarked, "Biologically, men are way stronger than women, so I feel like it would not really be fair for women to compete against biological men." Sabalenka also indicated her willingness to undergo the genetic testing mandated by the WTA, saying, "If they want to test us all, I'm happy to do that. It's pretty fair, and let's keep it that way."

The new guidelines have faced criticism from pro-trans activists, but Sabalenka's stance reflects a call from athletes for clarity and fairness in competition. She acknowledged that the WTA "took them a little while to make this decision," underscoring the complexity of the issue.

Sabalenka's comments come amid ongoing debates in sports regarding transgender athlete participation and the balance between inclusion and competitive equity.

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