Tennis News Roundup: Aryna Sabalenka riles up tennis world with controversial comment on transgender athletes; Joao Fonseca snubbed for major ATP 2025 award

Fans slammed Aryna Sabalenka for saying that she didn't support transgender women playing against biological women. Martina Navratilova reacted to Sabalenka's opinion on the controversial matter.

Joao Fonseca loses the Breakthrough Player of the Year award to Valentin Vacherot. Reacting to Marta Kostyuk's claims that higher-ranked players have higher testosterone levels, Sabalenka said the Ukrainian was making excuses. Boris Becker expressed his surprise at Novak Djokovic's omission from the 'best tennis player ever' discussion.

On that note, let's look into the stories of the day:

#1. Fans criticize Aryna Sabalenka for controversial take on transgender athletes

As Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios gear up for their 'Battle of the Sexes' exhibition match in Dubai, they joined Piers Morgan on his show "Piers Morgan Uncensored" on Tuesday, December 9. Morgan asked them what they thought about trans women competing in women's tennis.

Sabalenka said:

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

Fans were not happy with the World No. 1's comments, especially as she sat next to the controversial Kyrgios.

"Just pathetic and embarrassing. talking about what's fair to women while sitting beside a man found guilty of abusing women like this is ridiculous," a user wrote.

"She‘s such a terrible image for women’s tennis. imagine being the World No. 1 and sitting next to an abuser. It's so embarrassing and honestly really disappointing for the sport," another commented.

"Sat next to a domestic abuser talking about what's fair and unfair for women is insane," one user tweeted.

#2. Martina Navratilova reacts to Aryna Sabalenka's comments on trans women in tennis

The debate about the inclusion of transgender athletes in sports is not new. Former player Martina Navratilova has been a staunch critic of trans women competing with biological women in tennis. Thus, she was relieved to learn that Aryna Sabalenka was on the same page.

Appearing on the "Piers Morgan Uncensored" show recently, the Belarusian asserted she didn't support the idea of transgender women playing on the WTA Tour. Navratilova reacted to her comments on X, writing:

"Thank you Aryna!"

#3. Joao Fonseca loses major ATP award to Valentin Vacherot

Swiss Indoors Basel 2025 - Source: Getty

Valentin Vacherot has edged Joao Fonseca, Jack Draper, and Jakub Mensik for the 2025 Breakthrough Player of the Year award. According to journalist Bastien Fachan, the Most Improved Player of the Year and the Newcomer of the Year awards were merged into Breakthrough of the Year for the first time this season.

Vacherot won his maiden title at the Shanghai Masters, including a straight-set win over Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. He became the lowest-ranked (No. 204) player to win an ATP Masters title.

However, several fans were hoping for Brazilian teenager Fonseca to win the honor. The 19-year-old won his first title at the ATP 250 Argentina Open in February and followed it up with the ATP 500 Swiss Indoors in October. Fonseca finished the season as the World No. 24 with a 26-16 record.

#4. Aryna Sabalenka hits back at Marta Kostyuk's 'testosterone' comments

During an interview with Tennis365 in October, Marta Kostyuk claimed that top players such as Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek have higher testosterone levels, which help them win. Sabalenka has a 4-0 head-to-head record against the Ukrainian and has yet to drop a set.

During her recent appearance on the "Piers Morgan Uncensored" show, the World No. 1 reacted to Kostyuk's comments, saying:

"That's so funny that we even talk about someone like Marta Kostyuk's comments but all I hear here is just excuses, and it's actually quite funny because she's a strong girl. She probably has more muscles than I do and she looks fit and strong and that's not the case in all of the matches she lost against top players."

Sabalenka also spoke about posting her bikini photos on social media after the Ukrainian's comments.

"Just wanted to make sure that she sees the real picture," she said.

#5. Boris Becker taken aback by Novak Djokovic's absence from 'best tennis player' discussion

On Tuesday, December 9, a journalist on X gave five options and asked his followers to choose the best tennis player.

However, like many fans, Boris Becker was surprised that 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic was not included in the options. The six players mentioned by the journalist were Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, John McEnroe, and Andy Roddick.

Ignoring all of them, Becker straightaway asked why the Serb's name was missing from the list.