Maria Sharapova has hit out at the The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) over a headline and article about Wimbledon title favourite Aryna Sabalenka.
The American newspaper has published a story around the female world No.1 organising practice sessions with male stars Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner at the All England Club.
The WSJ posted an image of Sabalenka on their Instagram last week with the headline: ‘The world No.1 who hits so hard she practices against men.’
Sharapova has blasted the WSJ for their reporting, posting on social media: ‘What is this headline and what is this article. You can do better.’
Tennis fans blast ‘sad journalism’ from WSJ
A number of tennis fans have also taken issue with the story, highlighting that many female tennis players regularly practice with the male stars.
‘Serena [Williams] had exclusively make hitting partners, and so did Venus [Williams],’ one tennis fan, @gone_aw_ry, posted.
‘And so did/do pretty much all of the women on the pro tour. What is this?!’
A second tennis fan, @j.e.n.w.e.a.v.e.r, added: ‘This is really sad journalism on so many levels.
‘Maybe consult with real tennis players before publishing. Not only does it sell Sabalenka short by suggesting she’s got zero game other than power, but it minimizes the other women on tour who also have the power and ability to go toe-to-toe with Sabalenka.
‘And [by the way] most if not all have male hitting partners in their rotation. Do better WSJ.’
What did the WSJ’s post about Sabalenka say?
The WSJ’s caption on their Instagram post reads: ‘There are certain tennis players whose genius takes hours of watching to appreciate.
‘They are the artists who win matches with touch, subtlety, and complex point construction.
‘World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is not one of them. The weapon that has made her the best women’s tennis player on the planet becomes obvious in a matter of seconds.
‘She simply hits the ball harder and more accurately than anyone else in the game.
‘In fact, the 27-year-old Sabalenka now crushes the ball so forcefully that she needs new practice partners.
‘And, as it turns out, the right players for the job happen to be people she could never face in singles competition.
‘That’s because they’re men. Since arriving at Wimbledon, Sabalenka has organised practice sessions with 24-time major winner Novak Djokovic and men’s No. 1 Jannik Sinner.
‘Each time, she said, she came away elated, exhausted, and full of valuable insights into her own cannonball groundstrokes.
‘“Hitting with the guys, it’s another level of intensity,” Sabalenka said. “When you see, on that side, someone like Jannik or Novak, you learn from them. You reflect what they do on court.”
‘Read more at the link in our bio.’