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Starting from the WTA tournaments in Tokyo, tennis players will benefit from a rule that has been blocked for a few years but is back in vogue in Japan. The tennis players who reached the final or semi-final in the previous tournament will be able to have the Bye, even to the detriment of tennis players with a better ranking.
At the Tokyo tournament it happened that Caroline Garcia and Maria Sakkari had the Bye while Elena Rybakina, winner of Wimbledon 2022 and finalist in Australia this year, played a first round match. This was not particularly welcome also because according to Rybakina it was a last-minute change.
Through a harsh Instagram post, Elena made interesting statements and practically called the WTA leaders a clown, using this emoji at the end of the text: "Thank you for the rule changes at the last moment. Fantastic decision - as always - by of the WTA." A controversy that is causing quite a bit of discussion in these hours and which sees several tennis players, especially in the top positions, quite annoyed.
The women's circuit is dealing with a new important controversy, and we will see if there will be a response to the controversy from the federation.
Aryna Sabalenka has the same ideas of the Elena Rybakina. The Belarusian explained explained on the eve of the Beijing tournament: "I don't understand the rule. Players who get byes for playing the semifinals in a lower tournament get a bye in a 1000 tournament, I don't understand it.
I think you have to earn those byes. You have to do it for consistency of your game, not just for playing well in a tournament. You have to deserve it, that's why I don't understand it and I don't agree. I'm happy for the players who made it, but I think this is not acceptable.
I hope the same thing doesn't happen again later." In the press conference of the same tournament, after her first match win, the Pole Iga Swiatek talked about many topics, including the issue of the Bye, opposing the ideas of her colleague Aryna Sabalenka.
She analyzed: "I haven't commented on this rule yet, because it's the first time something like this has happened. It seems like a smart rule to me. I've played in tournaments where I've come very far, and I know what it's like to take the court in the next event with no time to rest and prepare.
I think the rule is fine and makes sense. I know there has been controversy, but I just want to focus on my tennis. I don't care if I have to play one more game."