After the Wuhan tournament, Aryna Sabalenka found herself at the center of controversy. The Belarusian failed to defend her title, and in the semifinals, her emotions boiled over. The world No. 1 made no effort to hide her anger on court, culminating in a furious racket throw that nearly hit a ball kid. Now, tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg has spoken out sharply about the incident.
Sabalenka had been storming through the WTA 1000 event in Wuhan, dominating every opponent up to the semifinals. There, however, she was unexpectedly stopped by Jessica Pegula. The American needed three sets but ultimately triumphed 2–6, 6–4, 7–6(2) to advance to the final.
Outrage After Sabalenka’s Actions in Wuhan
It was clear throughout the match that the Belarusian was struggling to contain her nerves and couldn’t mentally handle her opponent. At one point, she slammed her racket to the ground with such force that it bounced and nearly struck a nearby ball kid.
The act sparked widespread criticism from fans and experts alike. Although Sabalenka avoided any formal punishment, renowned tennis analyst Ben Rothenberg has now voiced his opinion — and he didn’t hold back.
> “I was late to this, but both the WTA and ATP really need to crack down on players firing off ‘missiles’ in anger. It looks terrible and is genuinely dangerous for people on court. Sabalenka was lucky it didn’t end much worse than it did last week in the BvdZ match,” Rothenberg wrote — referring to Botic van de Zandschulp’s similar outburst in Shanghai.
