'I Have Nothing To Do...': Aryna Sabalenka Clarifies Her Views On Transgender Inclusion

Last Updated:December 10, 2025, 08:23 IST

Aryna Sabalenka talks transgender women in sports, fairness for cis women and replies to Marta Kostyuk.

Aryna Sabalenka is a four-time Grand Slam champion (Picture credit: AFP)

Four-time Grand Slam champion Aryna Sabalenka has said that although she has nothing to do with transgender women athletes, she thinks they would still have a massive physical advantage over cis women, adding that it would not be fair to the latter to face someone who is biologically a man.

In recent years, the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports has become a major topic of debate. The WTA permits trans women to compete on the tour, provided they meet specific eligibility requirements.

Sabalenka is in New York, where she played an exhibition match at Madison Square Garden against Naomi Osaka.

“Well, that is a tricky question. I have nothing against them, but I feel like they still have a huge advantage over women and I think it is just not fair to a woman to face like a biological man basically," Sabalenka said while speaking on Piers Morgan Uncensored.

“And then it is, you know, it isn’t fair like the woman has been working the whole life to reach her limit and then she has to face like a man (who is) biologically much stronger. So, for me, I don’t agree with this kind of stuff in sports," Sabalenka said.

Earlier this year, Ukrainian tennis star Marta Kostyuk stirred controversy when she claimed she was at a disadvantage against players like Sabalenka and Iga Świątek due to their ‘higher levels of testosterone’.

“That is so funny that we even talk about someone like Marta Kostyuk’s comments, but all I hear here is just excuses. And it is actually quite funny because she is a strong girl," Sabalenka said.

“She (Kostyuk) probably has more muscles than I do and she looks like she looks fit and strong and I think that isn’t the case in all of the matches she lost against all players," Sabalenka added. 

News sports tennis 'I Have Nothing To Do...': Aryna Sabalenka Clarifies Her Views On Transgender Inclusion

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