Aryna Sabalenka just can't stop making headlines during the WTA Tour's offseason.

It all started with Sabalenka announcing she'll play against former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios in a "Battle of the Sexes" match. They'll square off at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai on Dec. 28. There'll most likely be plenty of eyes on that exhibition, albeit some fans are claiming it'll set women's tennis back. Sabalenka, however, disagrees with that narrative.

"I am not putting myself at risk. We're there to have fun and bring great tennis. Whoever wins, wins," Sabalenka said. "It's so obvious that the man is biologically stronger than the woman, but it's not about that. This event is only going to help bring women's tennis to a higher level."

On Tuesday, the No. 1 women's tennis player in the world was asked about the "Battle of the Sexes" match during an interview with Piers Morgan. While on the controversial broadcaster's show, she was asked about transgender athletes competing in women's sports.

Sabalenka said it'd be unfair for women to compete against transgender athletes.

"I have nothing against them, but I feel like they still have a huge advantage over women," Sabalenka said. "I think it's just not fair to women to basically face biological men. It's not fair. The women work their whole life to reach her limit, and then she has to face a man, which is biologically much stronger. So. for me, I don't agree with this kind of stuff in sport."

Fans fire back.

Back in 2023, Kyrgios pleaded guilty to pushing a former girlfriend to the ground. Tennis fans believe it's insulting that Sabalenka is willing to work with him but won't accept transgender athletes.

"So they end up discussing why men shouldn't be allowed to compete against women while PROMOTING a man vs woman tennis match," one fan pointed out.

"She's such a terrible image for women’s tennis," a second fan declared. "Imagine being the world No. 1 and sitting next to an abuser. It's so embarrassing and honestly really disappointing for the sport."

she’s actually a horrible human being and no one can convince me otherwise https://t.co/XoUzidMIc1

— 🦂 (@jkcidal) December 9, 2025

"This culture war over trans athletes is so overplayed and unnecessary can we be serious for a second… I hate the way that so many people feed into this stuff when ultimately all it accomplishes is fanning flames of hatred," a third fan commented.

"Sat next to a domestic abuser taking about whats fair and unfair for women is insane," a social media user wrote.

"I’ve always been a fan of Sabalenka as a person and as a player but genuinely after all her silly tiktoks and content with a piece of [expletive] who’s also a domestic abuser… yea no sorry and the excuse that she’s under the same management doesn’t cut it," another fan wrote.

Sabalenka is no stranger to causing a stir online. She made questionable comments about Coco Gauff after losing the French Open final this year.

We'll see if Sabalenka clears the air in the coming days.

This story was originally published by The Spun on Dec 10, 2025, where it first appeared in the Tennis section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.