Paula Badosa asks Aryna Sabalenka to ‘start losing’ to make women’s tennis more entertaining unlike Federer-Nadal-Djokovic-era men’s tennis
Paula Badosa on Why Women’s Tennis is More Entertaining Than Men’s
Paula Badosa and Aryna Sabalenka recently sat down for a candid interview, where they shared their perspectives on the state of modern tennis. Badosa sparked a lively discussion by stating that women’s tennis is more exciting than men’s, pointing to the dominance of the ‘Big Three’—Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic—as making the ATP predictable for decades.
“When you watch a movie, you don’t want to know the ending. Of course, you don’t! In women’s tennis, you never know what’s going to happen, but in men’s tennis, you always knew—okay, Rafa, Djokovic, Roger.”
With Djokovic still at the top at 37 years old, and rising stars Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner continuing to win, Badosa believes men’s tennis remains a closed race. She even joked at Sabalenka’s expense:
“And I hope you start losing so it’s more entertaining.”
To which the World No. 1 replied playfully:
“So she (Badosa) is definitely out from our podcast.” (Both burst into laughter.)
Equal Prize Money Debate: Badosa & Sabalenka Respond to Davydenko’s Comments
During the interview, the pair also weighed in on Nikolay Davydenko’s claim that equal prize money between men and women is unfair.
Badosa firmly defended gender equality in tennis, acknowledging the sport’s male-dominated history but arguing that times have changed:
“Sports were originally created for men, but that was centuries ago. We’re in a new era now, and both men’s and women’s tennis have evolved.”
She also highlighted the athleticism in women’s tennis, referencing Sabalenka’s powerful serve, which rivals that of male players:
“The person sitting next to me serves at 200 km/h, hits faster than some men. The level is pretty equal now.”
Sabalenka agreed but acknowledged that men have a natural physical advantage:
“We have to admit that the men’s level will always be higher in terms of strength, but that doesn’t mean women don’t work just as hard. I think we sacrifice much more.”
The two also discussed the unique physical challenges female athletes face, such as menstruation, pregnancy, and hormonal fluctuations, which impact training and performance. Given these factors, both Badosa and Sabalenka believe equal prize money is fair and justified.
Badosa & Sabalenka at Qatar TotalEnergies Open 2025
Both players are currently competing at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open. Badosa (9th seed) will face Katerina Siniakova in the first round on February 10, while top-seeded Sabalenka has a bye into the second round, where she will meet the winner of Emma Raducanu vs. Ekaterina Alexandrova.
With a potential semifinal showdown on the horizon, their friendship may soon be put to the test—again.
