The world's number one racket considered that trans athletes have a biological advantage over women
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Aryna Sabalenka, world number one in tennis, took a firm stance on one of the most sensitive debates in current sports: the participation of transgender women in the women's circuit.
The Belarusian tennis player stated that their presence implies a biological advantage over players who are biologically women, statements she made on the program Piers Morgan Uncensored on the British network TalkTV, as part of the promotion for the exhibition "The Battle of the Sexes," which will see her face Nick Kyrgios (currently No. 672 in the ATP men's ranking, although he reached No. 13) next December 28 in Dubai.
"I have nothing against them, but they still have a big advantage over women. It's not fair for a woman to basically face a man, biologically speaking," Sabalenka said. She added: "Women have worked their whole lives to reach their limit and then they have to face men, who are biologically much stronger. For me, I don't agree with this kind of thing in sports."
Kyrgios, present during the interview, avoided elaborating on his stance, but left no doubt about his agreement: "I feel exactly the same."
Sabalenka y Kyrgios coinciden en que los trans en competencias femeninas están mal
Meanwhile, both tennis players are preparing for the exhibition on December 28. The Belarusian admitted that a match against men under normal conditions would be an uneven challenge: "Physically, they are stronger. Maybe I could beat some within the Top 1000, someone with a less powerful serve."
Meanwhile, the Australian returned the compliment with humor and competitiveness: "I know Aryna and I know that she is a very dangerous tennis player who trusts her abilities. I'll go out and give it my all. I've had tough defeats throughout my career, but this would be the ultimate one." "Her serve is better than that of many men. Our goal is to make the sport grow," he concluded.
Sabalenka enfrentará a Kyrgios en la "Batalla de los Sexos"
The WTA's position on trans players
Currently, the Women's Tennis Association allows the participation of trans women in official tournaments under a strict protocol. According to AFP, players must prove testosterone levels below 2.5 nmol/Lfor at least two years prior to their registration, in addition to presenting a formal declaration of female or non-binary gender identity.
To date, no trans tennis player is among the top places in the ranking. The most well-known historical precedent is that of the American Renée Richards, who after competing in the men's US Open in the 1950s, played on the women's circuit from the late 1970s until 1981 and later became a coach, even collaborating with Martina Navratilova.
