Aryna Sabalenka has chosen not to criticize fellow tennis star Iga Swiatek, who recently faced scrutiny following a doping case. Swiatek, the world No. 1, provided a measured response to the situation, indicating that those responsible for making judgments have already expressed their views.
In late November, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced that Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion, accepted a one-month suspension after testing positive for trimetazidine (TMZ). However, the investigation concluded that her positive test resulted from melatonin contamination, validating her explanation.
This incident has sparked claims of double standards, particularly in the context of professional players. Among the most vocal critics of Swiatek’s case are Nick Kyrgios and Simona Halep.
“People are really used to overreacting before figuring stuff out, so I don’t want to leave any comments. I believe in clean sport, and there’s nothing else I can add,” Sabalenka told The National when asked about the doping allegations against Swiatek.
Regarding her own position in the rankings, Sabalenka has held the No. 1 spot since dethroning Swiatek in September. As the reigning Australian Open and US Open champion, she currently leads Swiatek by 1,121 points. However, maintaining her top ranking may prove challenging, as Sabalenka has 2,000 points to defend at the upcoming Australian Open, while Swiatek, who was eliminated in the third round last year, has fewer points to protect.
“You cannot be confident on that. It’s a mental thing. Of course I’d like to stay there as long as possible, and I’m working really hard for that, so let’s see how next season is going to be,” Sabalenka stated when discussing her prospects for retaining her ranking.
This weekend, both Sabalenka and Swiatek are set to compete at the World Tennis League in Abu Dhabi.
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