Miami Open: Tennis Fans Agitated by Broadcasters’ Decision to Side With Coco Gauff Over Aryna Sabalenka

A lot was at stake when popular platforms like Tennis Channel and Canada’s TSN decided not to air the match of Aryna Sabalenka vs. Paula Badosa yesterday at the Miami Open. To gauge the 2024 Australian Open winner’s form as she was coming out of an unfortunate event that hit her (just six days prior) and to battle it out with her best friend Badosa for the fifth time, to say the least, fans were mad. The cherry on top? They were equal in their head-to-head.

Instead, Tennis Channel broadcasted American prodigy Coco Gauff’s match against Nadia Podoroska. And, TSN chose to offer Andrey Rublev’s match against Tomas Machac. The rain had stopped a few matches that were scheduled and only 8 were completed that day. The frustration stemmed from the view that less significant matches took precedence over those featuring a Grand Slam champion and a former World No.2.

The Belarusian won against the Spanish opponent and took the head-to-head lead 3-2. This also makes her the fourth player to have 25 WTA-1000 match wins since the start of 2023, after Iga Swiatek with 40 wins, Elena Rybakina with 34 wins, and Coco Gauff with 26 wins. Her next opponent is Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina.

Fans argued that both Nadia Podoroska and Tomas Machac are new names in the sport. While these matches didn’t disappoint fans, they were focused on Sabalenka’s performance after she bagged the season’s debut Grand Slam title. However, due to the broadcasting channel not streaming this match, people couldn’t watch Sabalenka take over Badosa. This anger was expressed thoroughly by fans on X.

Disappointed fans searched other channels to check for Sabalenka’s match

After a tennis fan tweeted their disappointment with TSN for not showing the Sabalenka match and telecasting the match of lesser-known players. The fan said, DAY OFF. Pretty PISSED at @tsn for not showing the Sabalenka match today. Instead it’s two numbnuts I’ve never heard of…DO BETTER TSN!” Soon after this tweet, many tennis enthusiasts dropped their comments on the thread showing frustration over this.

Fans wished they could watch Aryna Sabalenka’s match, “Kind of wish they were showing the Badosa Sabalenka match instead. Coco’s match will be over quickly with not much effort.” Coco Gauff’s match ended soon without much effort from the former US Open champion’s side. Though the match went on for 1 hour and 16 minutes, she beat Nadia Podoroska easily 6-1 6-2.

Frustrated people tagged the Tennis Channel on X (formerly Twitter) and asked about how they could watch Aryna Sabalenka’s match against Paula Badosa. “Why isn’t the @tennischannel showing the Badosa Sabalenka match?” “

While some even tried looking for alternative channels to check if they were streaming the match since Tennis Channel didn’t offer to telecast it. “@TennisChannel I have @Sling to watch tennis. You are airing Coco’s game and I want to watch Sabalenka and Badosa’s. Said T2, got Fubo and the game is not live on T2. What’s the deal with you guys? Where can we watch the game?” 

Disappointed people confessed that Coco Gauff’s game was uninteresting since she didn’t have to make much effort. Instead, they wanted to see a tough game between Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa. While one said, “Coco is clearly gonna win this match. “Show Sabalenka v Badosa!” how the Sabalenka match! said the other.

Fans’ disappointment over not getting to see Aryna Sabalenka’s match on prime time represented the huge fan following of the Belarusian tennis star.

Read more: BFF Paula Badosa Confesses to Feeling ‘Uncomfortable’ About Facing Grieving Aryna Sabalenka at Miami Open