World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka started her 2026 National Bank Open campaign with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima in the Round of 64 on Tuesday in Toronto, according to Field Level Media. Sabalenka, 28, faced early challenges after losing her first service game and falling 2-0 behind. However, she rallied by winning five consecutive games to take the first set and then built a 3-2 lead in the second set after both players exchanged five consecutive service breaks.

WTA Transgender Policy Sparks Social Media Debate

Sabalenka’s comments on the WTA’s new transgender eligibility policy, which includes a genetic screening requirement, have generated significant discussion on social media, as reported by Fox News and Queer.de. During a press conference in Montreal, Sabalenka expressed her support for the policy, calling it a necessary step to preserve fairness in women’s tennis, and “It’s really important to keep the fairness in our tour,” she said. “Biologically, men are much stronger than women, though So I feel that it’s not really fair for women to play against biological men.”

The WTA policy requires all players to undergo genetic testing to ensure only cisgender women compete in WTA tournaments, as Sabalenka’s stance has drawn both support and criticism online. While many praised her for speaking out on an issue seen as rooted in common sense, others dismissed the debate, arguing that the presence of transgender athletes in women’s sports is not a problem. Some critics labeled her a “transphobe” or “bigot,” as reported by Fox News.

Ranking Battle and Tournament Strategy

Sabalenka continues to lead the WTA rankings, having held the No. 1 position for 94 consecutive weeks and a total of 102 weeks, according to Puntodebreak. She arrives in Toronto with 8,550 points, a 494-point lead over second-ranked Elena Rybakina. Sabalenka needs only to reach the quarterfinals to retain her No. 1 status, while Rybakina must win the tournament and hope Sabalenka fails to advance beyond the round of 16.

“I’m happy to do that,” Sabalenka said of the genetic testing, though “It’s quite fair,” she added, according to ESPN Argentina — Sabalenka also emphasized her focus on her own goals and the importance of maintaining fairness in women’s tennis. “If they want to test us all, I’m happy to do that,” she said.

Support and Criticism for Policy

While Sabalenka’s comments align with the WTA’s new transgender policy, they have not been universally supported — some scientific studies suggest that the advantages and disadvantages of transgender women in women’s sports are roughly balanced, as noted by Queer.de. Still, Sabalenka remains a prominent voice in the ongoing debate over transgender participation in elite women’s sports.

“I support it if they want to test us all, I’m happy to do that,” Sabalenka reiterated during the press conference; her stance reflects a broader concern among athletes and governing bodies about preserving competitive fairness in women’s sports.