Aryna Sabalenka, the World No.1, has been one of the biggest draws on the tour in recent years, often handed prime match slots to maximise crowd engagement. However, at the Miami Open 2026, the Belarusian had to temporarily give up that privilege following rain-induced scheduling chaos.
Aryna Sabalenka reacts after missing a shot against Ann Li (USA) (not pictured) on day four of the 2026 Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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A delay to Carlos Alcaraz’s highly anticipated clash against Brazilian prodigy Joao Fonseca forced organisers into reshuffling the schedule, with the match eventually moved to centre court. There were further disruptions, including Mirra Andreeva’s fixture being slotted into Sabalenka’s original time.
As a result, Sabalenka, fresh off her title run at Indian Wells Open, was shifted to the smaller Butch Buchholz Court. The organisers presented her with multiple options, including the possibility of postponing her match altogether to accommodate the Alcaraz-Fonseca blockbuster — a suggestion that left her stunned.
“Well, I was actually shocked that they were considering cancelling my match, or giving me a couple of options of the stadiums,” she said. “I was like, ‘What’s the problem for Alcaraz and Fonseca to start later?’ Yesterday, the night session started at nine, and then Mirra was playing.”
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Sabalenka insisted on playing as scheduled, prioritising recovery time for the later rounds.
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Sabalenka insisted on playing as scheduled, prioritising recovery time for the later rounds.
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“I was really shocked by the idea of even cancelling my match. But I decided to play today so that, if I win, I have a day off — time to prepare and recharge.”
The decision worked in her favour as she defeated Ann Li 7-6, 6-4 to advance to the third round, where she will face Caty McNally.
Sabalenka admitted the episode was unprecedented in her career.
“I think I’ve never dealt with something like that. It’s a first experience. I just thought it’s not a big problem for me to play and for the night session to start a bit later. But I guess that’s what was better for the tournament.”
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The scheduling controversy comes just days after Sabalenka hit back at remarks from Salah Tahlak, who had suggested stricter penalties for players skipping tournaments, including docking ranking points — comments she had labelled “ridiculous.”
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.
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Stay updated with the latest sports news, including latest headlines and updates from the Olympics 2024, where Indian athletes will compete for glory in Paris. Catch all the action from tennis Grand Slam tournaments, follow your favourite football teams and players with the latest match results, and get the latest on international hockey tournaments and series.
Home/Sports/Tennis/Aryna Sabalenka 'shocked' organisers considered cancelling Miami Open match for Carlos Alcaraz
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