Aryna Sabalenka reacts sharply to statements made by Marta Kostyuk after she brought up alleged “biological advantages”. When tennis becomes a telenovela…
by Isabella Walser-Bürgler
last edited: December 10, 2025, 9:48 p.m
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In October, Ukrainian player Marta Kostyuk claimed in an interview that the dominance of current WTA world number one Aryna Sabalenka was due to her biological advantages. Her quasi-masculine physique and her supposedly high testosterone level would make it impossible for smaller and more “feminine” players to compete against her in a fair fight. Kostyuk demanded that this should be better investigated and regulated.
All just excuses
Sabalenka, who found herself on the couch of famous presenter Piers Morgan with Nick Kyrgios before the show match, blocked immediately. For Sabalenka, Kostyuk’s argument simply does not hold water. She emphasized that Kostyuk is muscular and athletic herself and is definitely not a physically inferior player. In addition, Kostyuk not only lost against her, but also against smaller opponents. This is a clear indication that other factors play a role. Quite apart from that, Sabalenka stated: If you want to survive at the top, you just have to learn to get along with different types of players.
The limits of biology
As the interview descended into discussion of trans athletes, Sabalenka remained cautious but firm. While she expressed clear fairness concerns with biological men, she made it clear that natural differences exist among cisgender women and should be accepted as such within the WTA. By rejecting Kostyuk’s biology arguments, she shows that she distinguishes between social debate and sporting reality and wants to maintain the focus on performance.
Kyrgios as an unexpected voice of reason
Hard to believe: In the midst of this explosive discussion, Nick Kyrgios was the one who got to the heart of the sporting logic. Differences in physique are completely normal, he reiterated, but have no direct impact on victory or defeat. “John Isner was a lot bigger than Roger Federer,” he said. “And yet Roger was the one who was able to adapt better and was more successful in the end.” For the best of the best, it would be about mobilizing all resources – including playful, strategic and mental ones – in the crucial moments.
An exchange of blows with a future?
The dispute revealed a fundamental debate in women’s tennis: How do players deal with defeats? Sabalenka relies on responsibility and self-criticism and is making a statement about the tour. Kostyuk, on the other hand, is faced with the choice of continuing to talk about it or adding more. On the pitch, of course.
