“Please… leave me alone! This has gone too far — I really haven’t done anything wrong!” Aryna Sabalenka finally snaps and responds to the wave of criticism surrounding her gender identity, while also revealing a shocking secret she had kept hidden for a long time, leaving the entire tennis world stunned.

By Javier Ruiz, Tennis Correspondent in Europe Madrid, December 4, 2025 – The tennis world came to a standstill this morning.

Aryna Sabalenka, the WTA number two and one of the most dominant players of the modern era, burst into an impromptu press conference outside Dubai, where she is preparing for the upcoming season, with a torrent of emotions that no one expected.

With tears in her eyes and a broken voice, the 27-year-old Belarusian has lashed out against the avalanche of rumors and criticism that have circulated for months about her gender identity.

“Please… leave me alone! This has gone too far — I really haven’t done anything wrong!” she shouted, slamming her fist on the table in a gesture that instantly captured global attention.

But what came next was even more shocking: a personal revelation that has shaken the foundations of tennis, leaving rivals, coaches and fans in a state of collective shock.

It all started as a whisper in the shadows of social media, but it quickly escalated into a perfect storm. For years, Sabalenka has been the subject of malicious speculation about her imposing physique and aggressive playing style, which some have labeled “masculine.”

Unfounded rumors, fueled by anonymous forums like Reddit and conspiratorial (now X) Twitter accounts, suggested that the Belarusian might be transgender, born male, and unfairly competing on the women’s circuit.

These accusations, which date back to at least 2018 according to viral threads on r/conspiracy, intensified in 2024 when her fitness trainer, Jason Stacy, appeared at the US Open wearing a cap from the controversial brand XX-XY Athletics – a symbol of opposition to the inclusion of trans athletes in women’s sports.

Stacy, who has been key in Sabalenka’s three Grand Slams, issued a statement in December 2024 defending “biological rules and limits” in the sport, which fueled the fire.

“This isn’t about division or politics, it’s about biology,” the American coach declared, without directly mentioning his pupil, but enough for internet trolls to connect the dots.

The pressure reached its peak in September 2025, during an exhibition match in Dubai against Nick Kyrgios, dubbed a modern-day “Battle of the Sexes,” reminiscent of the legendary confrontation between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in 1973.

The event, which sought to promote gender equality in tennis, ended in controversy when a section of the live audience and on social media accused Sabalenka of having an “unfair advantage” due to her “supernatural strength”.

Comments like “She looks like a man dressed as a woman” flooded the platforms, and even sensationalist media outlets like CelebsInDepth published speculative articles titled “Aryna Sabalenka Might Be Trans: Her Masculine Body Fuels Rumors.”

Sabalenka, who has won two Australian Opens (2023 and 2024) and the 2024 US Open with a game that combines raw power and surgical precision, saw her achievements eclipsed under this toxic cloud.

In previous interviews, she had gracefully sidestepped the topic, focusing instead on her tennis: “I play with what God gave me, and that’s enough.”

But the harassment extended to her personal life: her on-again, off-again relationship with former hockey player Konstantin Koltsov, which ended in 2024, was reinterpreted as “proof” of her sexual orientation, and even her friendship with Elise Mertens – who is openly bisexual – was twisted into romantic innuendo.

This morning, in a conference room at the Atlantis The Royal in Dubai, Sabalenka decided to break her silence. Dressed in a loose-fitting sweatshirt from her sponsor Nike and with her hair pulled back in a messy ponytail, the player entered alone, without her usual team.

Microphone in hand, her initial voice was a trembling whisper that soon escalated into a shout of frustration. “I’ve put up with this for years. Ever since I won my first Australian Open, people haven’t stopped questioning who I am.”

“Trans? Male? What the hell does it matter? I’m Aryna Sabalenka, a woman who loves tennis and fights for every point as if it were her last!” she exclaimed, tears streaming down her cheeks. The press, alerted by a last-minute statement from her agent, held their breath.

Sabalenka directly accused social media of fostering a “virtual lynching” that has affected her mental health. “I’ve had nights when I couldn’t sleep, checking comments calling me a ‘fraud.’ My family in Belarus has received threats.”

Is this what we have achieved in tennis? Where instead of celebrating victories, we destroy lives?”

But the real bombshell came in the second part of her statement, a secret that, according to her, she has kept “like a dead weight on her heart” for more than a decade.

With a trembling voice, Sabalenka revealed that she suffers from a rare hormonal disorder, diagnosed in her teens: polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) aggravated by an underlying thyroid condition, which has caused a significant increase in her natural testosterone levels. “I am not trans, I never have been.

But my body produces more male hormones than normal, which has given me this strength that everyone admires… and hates,” he confessed.

She explained that, since the age of 15, she has followed a rigorous medical regimen overseen by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), including regular doping tests and treatments to balance her hormone levels. “The ITF knows everything. I’ve passed hundreds of tests, and I’ve always been clean.”

But I never said it publicly because I was afraid they would use me as an excuse to attack real trans women, or to question equality in sports.”

This revelation not only explains her athletic physique – which has been both praised for its power and criticized for “not being feminine” – but also sheds light on why Sabalenka has avoided gender issues in interviews, even as rivals like Iga Swiatek have publicly championed LGBTQ+ inclusion in tennis.

The impact on the tennis world was immediate and visceral. Iga Swiatek, her longtime Polish rival and current world number one, tweeted from her official account: “Aryna, you are a warrior on and off the court. This changes nothing: you are still the queen of power. #StandWithAryna.”

Novak Djokovic, from his training camp in Monte Carlo, issued a statement of support: “Tennis is a sport of vulnerability. Aryna has shown more courage today than in any Grand Slam final.”

Even Nick Kyrgios, with his usual candor, posted a video on Instagram: “That’s what I call real balls. Haters can go to hell. See you on the court, sister.”

The WTA, in a swift move, announced a campaign against online harassment, with Sabalenka as an honorary ambassador. “Her story highlights the need for education about body diversity in sport,” said Steve Simon, CEO of the WTA, in an official statement.

However, it wasn’t all applause. Some conservative groups, such as the supporters of XX-XY Athletics, downplayed the revelation, arguing that it “confirms the need for rigorous biological testing.” On forums like Reddit, new threads emerged questioning the “authenticity” of his condition, albeit without evidence.

Medical experts, for their part, backed Sabalenka: PCOS affects 10% of women of childbearing age and can raise testosterone to levels that improve athletic performance, but it is not equivalent to doping, according to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

At 27 years old, Sabalenka has accumulated 16 WTA titles, three Grand Slams and a 2024 year that saw her dominate with an 85% win rate.

But this crisis has revealed the dark side of fame: how constant scrutiny of a female athlete’s body can erode even the strongest minds.

In the press conference, which lasted just 20 minutes, Sabalenka concluded on a hopeful note: “I’m revealing this not out of pity, but so that other girls with ‘different’ bodies know they can dream big. Tennis saved me; now, I want to save someone else.”

She left the stage to a standing ovation from a handful of journalists, but the echo of her words will resonate for a long time.

The incident comes at a pivotal moment for tennis, with growing debates about trans inclusion – such as the case of Lia Thomas in swimming – and gender equality, exacerbated by events like the Kyrgios-Sabalenka “Battle of the Sexes”.

Will this change the ITF’s rules? Will it inspire other athletes to break their silence? Only time will tell. For now, the focus is on Sabalenka, who returns to training tomorrow. “I’ll play better than ever,” she promised. And no one doubts that she will.

Because, as she herself said, “I haven’t done anything wrong… I’ve just been myself.”