Watching Men’s Tennis More Fun

 By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday, April 26, 2024

Aryna Sabalenka’s Madrid matches have become must-see TV.

Today, defending Madrid champion Sabalenka survived a three-set test from Maga Linette in her Madrid opener and clarified her tennis television viewing habits.

Rafa Nadal: Not Fully Fit For Madrid, Will Do Everything to Play Paris

Earlier this week, Sabalenka sparked some social media debate saying she prefers watching men’s tennis more than women’s tennis.

Today, the two-time Australian Open champion contextualized her comments.

Sabalenka said she does watch women’s tennis, primarily to scout opponents, but prefers watching men’s tennis because it’s an escape that takes her mind off the pressures of her job.

“I didn’t want to damage women’s tennis, no. Listen, I mean, we are doing our best and, great, there is lots of great matches,” Sabalenka told the media in Madrid. “I don’t like to watch it just because I play against all of them, and I just want to kind of like change the picture, and because I watch lots of women’s tennis before I go to the match,

“I watch my opponents, I watch lots of woman’s tennis.”

Watching men’s tennis is more entertaining for Sabalenka because she doesn’t have to consider the consequence of her own draw.

“It’s not like I don’t like it, you know, like I try to offend what I do, you know. I was just trying to say that because I’m playing there and it’s too much for me,” Sabalenka said. “I’m just trying to watch men’s tennis. For me, it’s more fun, you know, than watching my probably like future opponents in the tournament.”

Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty