Sabalenka calls season schedule 'insane' and plans to skip some events

Aryna Sabalenka described the tennis calendar as "insane" and said she will risk fines to skip tournaments to protect her body; she beat Sorana Cirstea 6-3, 6-3 to reach the Brisbane International quarterfinals and is set to face Madison Keys.

Aryna Sabalenka said the tennis season is "insane" and announced she plans to skip some tournaments even if that risks fines, as a way to avoid injury and burnout. She spoke after defeating Sorana Cirstea 6-3, 6-3 to move into the Brisbane International quarterfinals. Sabalenka said current rules on mandatory events and fines make scheduling tricky. She also said having strong competition in Brisbane helps prepare for the Australian Open. Key facts: - Sabalenka described the season as "insane" and said she will skip events to protect her body, accepting possible fines. - She beat Sorana Cirstea 6-3, 6-3 to reach the Brisbane International quarterfinals. - Sabalenka is scheduled to play Madison Keys in the quarterfinals. - Sabalenka noted mandatory-event rules and fines affected her past scheduling decisions. Summary: Sabalenka has signaled a decision to manage her calendar more selectively, citing injury and exhaustion risks while also valuing high-quality matches as Grand Slam preparation. The immediate next step is her Brisbane quarterfinal against Madison Keys, with tournament progression to follow.