Sharapova Enraged By Questionable Headline About World No. 1 Sabalenka

A headline and article from the Wall Street Journal about Aryna Sabalenka enraged five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova.

Sabalenka is one of the most powerful players ever seen in women's tennis. The WTA world No. 1 recently said she has not played anyone more powerful than her, including the legendary Serena Williams.

Statisticians at many previous tournaments have measured her average groundstroke speed during matches. They found Sabalenka consistently hits the ball harder than many top men's players, including Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Novak Djokovic.

That statistic is presented at events in admiration of Sabalenka. Since most men are physically stronger than women, the Belarusian striking the ball harder than many male players, while remaining accurate, is highly impressive.

However, Sabalenka's achievements make it questionable whether publications should use that angle in headlines. She has won three Grand Slams, reached three other major finals, and been the world No. 1 since October.

The Wall Street Journal caused a stir with an article published about Sabalenka. Its headline read: "The World No. 1 who hits so hard she practices against men," without reference to any of her accomplishments.

Sharapova succinctly outlined her disgust in an Instagram story. She encouraged the Wall Street Journal, which is usually known for its high standards and professionalism when covering news, to improve and avoid such headlines.

Although Sharapova did not expand any further, the reason for her disgust is evident. The two-time Roland Garros champion does not think the focus of headlines about top female athletes like Sharapova should be on if they can compete against men.

Outstanding players and champions like Sabalenka undoubtedly deserve to be celebrated in their own right. During the last 12 months, she has been the best WTA player in the world and has set a consistent standard for others to reach.

Whether Sabalenka would find the headline distasteful is unclear. She has spoken openly about training with ATP players, including with Novak Djokovic before the ongoing 2025 Wimbledon Championships, who gave her advice on the court afterward.

Earlier this season, Sabalenka mentioned training with Andrey Rublev before giving up after five minutes because she found the session's intensity too much. The two-time Australian Open winner, who is always honest in press conferences, had no issue telling that story.

Sabalenka also caused controversy last year by admitting she preferred watching men's tennis to women's. Some argued that she harmed the WTA Tour with those words, while others appreciated her being truthful.

Millions enjoy watching women's tennis, as demonstrated by the WTA's viewing figures reaching a record last year. The WTA Tour's depth is shown by this year's upsets at Wimbledon, including Jessica Pegula losing to Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the opening round.

Coco Gauff also fell at the first hurdle, being defeated by Dayana Yastremska. The recent Roland Garros champion talked about her disappointment afterward but also does not want to dwell on the setback for too long.