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Serena Williams has drawn a wave of criticism from tennis fans after claiming that, unlike current world number one Aryna Sabalenka, she was "not allowed" to express her anger on court during her WTA career.
The statement from the former world number one and winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles was swiftly challenged on social media, particularly on Instagram. Several fans recalled numerous instances where the American tennis star had emotional outbursts on court, often directed at umpires. Some even referenced a controversial moment in her career that, in their opinion, Sabalenka has yet to match in severity.
Aryna Sabalenka has previously faced criticism for her on-court demeanor. In the 2025 Roland Garros women's singles final, after winning the first set against Coco Gauff, her performance significantly declined, allowing the American to capitalize on errors and win the match. The Belarusian was heavily criticized for her comments at the time.
In an interview with The Guardian earlier this year, Sabalenka admitted feeling embarrassed by her behavior in that match and revealed she had apologized to Gauff.
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