"Big 3 are a pandemic and should be stopped" - Tennis fans frustrated with comparisons between Aryna Sabalenka and Nadal after her Australian Open win
Aryna Sabalenka took a leaf out of Rafael Nadal's book on Saturday by not only winning the Australian Open but also biting her trophy, much like the Spaniard does after every title win. This prompted renowned broadcaster Tennis Channel to draw a parallel between Sabalenka and Nadal on social media, labeling the Belarusian "Aryna Nadal."
"Aryna Nadal," captioned Tennis Channel's social media post.
But some fans did not take too kindly to this comparison, pointing out that tennis does not revolve only around Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. One of them went as far as to call the Big 3 a "pandemic" to tennis in light of the comparison drawn by Tennis Channel.
"maybe everyone is right and the big 3 are a pandemic and should be stopped like WHY CANT YOU LET ANYONE HAVE THEIR MOMENT?!?!???" the fan vented their fury on Twitter.
maybe everyone is right and the big 3 are a pandemic and should be stopped like WHY CANT YOU LET ANYONE HAVE THEIR MOMENT?!?!??? twitter.com/TennisChannel/β¦
Another fan was also quick to voice their displeasure towards Tennis Channel's caption.
"Try not to make everything about the big 3 challenge," the fan wrote.
Try not to make everything about the big 3 challenge. twitter.com/TennisChannel/β¦
One Twitter user remarked that there was "no need to draw parallels."
"Poor tweet again from Tennis Channel. No need to draw parallels when there is none. Aryna Sabalenka is doing her things for her reasons," they said.
Poor tweet again from Tennis Channel. No need to draw parallels when there is none. Aryna Sabalenka is doing her things for her reasons. twitter.com/TennisChannel/β¦
One fan lambasted Tennis Channel for bringing men into women's tennis-related discussions.
"why do you need to bring men into this omfg," they said.
why do you need to bring men into this omfg twitter.com/tennischannel/β¦
Another fan insisted that not everything should be about Rafael Nadal.
"why do yβall insist on making everything about him," they said.
why do yβall insist on making everything about him twitter.com/tennischannel/β¦
Below are some more similar fan reactions:
whyβs nadal in it twitter.com/tennischannel/β¦
Rafael Sabalenka* π twitter.com/tennischannel/β¦ https://t.co/2ADu7cCltE
no it's Aryna SABALENKA twitter.com/TennisChannel/β¦
twitter.com/tennischannel/β¦
Nadal does not own the biting of trophies π twitter.com/tennischannel/β¦
he didnβt invent biting trophies but okayβ¦ twitter.com/tennischannel/β¦ https://t.co/Z6czvEbwVb
Aryna Sabalenka fires 51 winners past Elena Rybakina to win her maiden Grand Slam title
Aryna Sabalenka sent a whopping 51 winners past Elena Rybakina in her 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over the Kazakh in Saturday's Australian Open final. The match, which lasted almost 150 minutes, saw the Belarusian hit 17 aces against a relatively low seven double faults.
In comparison, Rybakina managed 31 winners, including nine aces, and committed only one double fault. The Kazakh struck fewer unforced errors (25 to 28) than Sabalenka, but that did not help her cause given the small margins in the match.
Sabalenka hit 18 winners off her forehand side and 15 off the other wing. She was particularly impressive with her smashes, sending four overhead winners past the Kazakh during the course of the match.