"Treating professional athletes like Sunday league": Indecision surrounding Elena Rybakina-Aryna Sabalenka rain delay WTA Finals match draws criticism

The match between Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka at the 2023 WTA Finals experienced multiple delays due to bad weather and was eventually suspended until the following day.

Fans expressed their frustration at the constant rain-related interruptions in the showdown between these two Grand Slam champions. In a rematch of the 2023 Australian Open final, Rybakina and Sabalenka faced off, vying for the second spot in the semifinals. However, the match remained incomplete and was paused with the score at 6-2, 3-5 in favor of the Belarusian.

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Earlier in the day, Jessica Pegula secured her third consecutive victory by defeating Maria Sakkari with a score of 6-3, 6-2. This win guaranteed Pegula the top spot in the Bacalar Group, and she now awaits the outcome of the Chetumal Group.

Criticism began to emerge due to what many perceived as poor scheduling by the event organizers. It was known in advance that there would be rain during the match, and many fans had hoped that the matches would be scheduled earlier to avoid the weather-related disruptions.

These issues add to the ongoing criticisms faced by the WTA regarding the Finals. The venue was confirmed just six weeks before the event, leading to delays in completing the construction of stands and other infrastructure.

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This late confirmation also prevented the tennis players from practicing on the court prior to the tournament, and many of the seats have remained empty during the round-robin matches.

“They are treating professional high athletes like Sunday league absolute disgrace for everyone involved ref fans ball kids, everyone,” some fan said.

"Whoever coordinated an outdoor WTA Finals in Cancun in prime hurricane season should be dismissed. It’s completely unfair the treatment the WTA players receive for such an important tournament in comparison to ATP logistics. Dreadful conditions! @WTA," they wrote on X.

"Next year @WTA, pick an indoor Hardcourt venue, not too far away from the last set of tournaments of the year."

“Crazy how bad the scheduling has been. WTA being so inflexible with it is ridiculous. Being forced to play past midnight is unacceptable. Starting and stopping play 6x now. Why not just postpone the match for the next day?”

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