Aryna Sabalenka hits out at the Australian Open's brand new courtside 'pods' and insists she is 'not a fan'... after the defending champion cruises past Sloane Stephens in the first round
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Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka blasted her way past Sloane Stephens - before training her guns on the Australian Open’s big new innovation. At this year’s tournament, coaches are allowed to sit directly courtside, just a few metres from the playing surface. These ‘pods’ are equipped with cooling fans and screens for statistical analysis. But only four seats are allocated and only tennis support staff can sit there - agents, friends and families must remain in the stands.
![[Due to the pod's limited capacity, the rest of Sabalenka's entourage had to sit in the stands]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/12/13/94008683-14275829-image-a-14_1736688179501.jpg)
Sabalenka declined to use the new feature, preferring to have her whole crew together in the traditional player box. ‘Honestly, I'm not a big fan of the decision,’ said 26-year-old Belarusian. ‘Or if you do that, then make more seats. Me personally, I like to see the whole team. I want to see all the people in my box. For me that's important.
![[The Belarusian still comfortably beat Sloane Stephens, in the first step to defending her title]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/12/13/94008675-14275829-image-m-16_1736688193680.jpg)
‘Sometimes I just want to look at my boyfriend for the support, for example. I just didn't want to have to look at the coach first, then look in the box. I have a lot of coaches. Four seats is not enough!. ‘So we decided to put everyone in the box. Maybe they were kind of tight there and not comfortable, but I was comfortable to see all of them.’.
Aryna Sabalenka criticised the Australian Open's new four-seat courtside pods for coaches. Due to the pod's limited capacity, the rest of Sabalenka's entourage had to sit in the stands. The Belarusian still comfortably beat Sloane Stephens, in the first step to defending her title.
