Aryna Sabalenka is the latest star to exhibit one big problem that the WTA is currently facing.
The Belarusian impressed once again in Melbourne, as she stormed into the final with minimal fuss.
However, once she got there, old demons re-emerged as she failed to clear the last hurdle. With the trophy in sight, Elena Rybakina snatched it from her, just as Madison Keys did the year prior.
Aryna Sabalenka has now lost three of the last four Grand Slam finals she has been in, with this latest defeat capping off what was seemingly a hugely exhausting two weeks, both physically and emotionally.
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As such, she made the intelligent decision to withdraw from the upcoming Masters 1000 tournament in Doha.
Aryna Sabalenka withdraws from the Doha Masters 1000 tournament
However, the fact that she is not alone in opting against playing at this event suggests that the WTA faces a wider problem with the scheduling.
After all, this elite-level event starts less than two weeks after the final of the Australian Open, forcing players to have a disproportionately quick turnaround to get ready for another tournament.
Sabalenka, who made it all the way to the final, felt it was not intelligent to rush into action.
Many other top stars have withdrawn from the Doha event too, including Jessica Pegula.
It is this widespread acceptance, and the decision that many stars have come to, that has proven the WTA has a big problem with its schedule.
The WTA can easily fix their big problem after the Australian Open
Whilst players like Iga Swiatek have complained about the length of the tennis schedule, the decision-making behind some of the placement of these big tournaments must now also be questioned.
After all, it would not take much to shift the calendar and allow more time between a Grand Slam and the next Masters 1000 event.
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Even if it were pushed back by just a week, or slotted in elsewhere in the calendar, they would guarantee far more big names’ participation, instead of missing out on so many due to its proximity to one of the four most gruelling tournaments of the year.
What’s even more baffling is the fact that as soon as play has concluded in Doha, there is another Masters 1000 tournament just a day later in Dubai.
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