Aryna Sabalenka’s fitness coach, Jason Stacy, came under fire from tennis fans for his continued support of the controversial pro-women brand “XX-XY Athletics” at the 2024 US Open. The brand has seemingly faced bans from social media sites for its alleged “transphobic” promotion.
Sabalenka reached her fourth consecutive US Open semifinal on Tuesday, September 3. After victories over Priscilla Hon, Lucia Bronzetti, Ekaterina Alexandrova, and Elise Mertens, she put on an exceptional display against Paris Olympics gold medalist Zheng Qinwen, beating her 6-1, 6-2 in the quarterfinal. She faces Emma Navarro for a spot in her second straight US Open final.
What caught the tennis fans’ attention during the match, though, was Sabalenka’s fitness coach Jason Stacy’s “XX-XY Athletics” hat. The sportswear brand, known for its premium casual athletic clothing, caters to “free-thinkers” and “truth tellers.” The “XX-XY” name derives from male (XY) and female (XX) chromosomes, furthering the brand’s ideology.
Launched earlier this year by retired artistic gymnast and ex-Levi’s president, Jennifer Sey, the brand’s mission is to “protect women’s sports and spaces” and maintain “fairness” by opposing transgender presence in women’s sports. Well-known sporting figures, including former American swimmer Riley Gaines, have also backed the controversial brand.
In July, it was revealed that the brand was “permanently suspended” from advertising on TikTok for seemingly promoting “political speech” and “hate” surrounding transgender issues. It should be noted that the brand is also being censored and shadow banned by other social media sites, including Meta.
A few tennis fans were thus left fuming about Stacy’s controversial endorsement and accused him of “transphobia.”
Before US Open 2024, Aryna Sabalenka’s fitness coach Jason Stacy sported XX-XY hat in Cincinnati
Aryna Sabalenka’s fitness coach Jason Stacy pictured at Cincinnati Open 2024 – Source: Getty
Aryna Sabalenka’s fitness coach Jason Stacy pictured at Cincinnati Open 2024 – Source: Getty
The 2024 US Open isn’t the first time that Aryna Sabalenka’s fitness coach, Jason Stacy, sported the XX-XY hat. He was spotted wearing the accessory at the 2024 Cincinnati Open, too, where Sabalenka was crowned the champion.
At the time, the XX-XY Athletics social media page took note of Stacy’s endorsement and praised him. Stacy responded by doubling down on his support. Aryna Sabalenka, too, seemingly acknowledged the brand’s initiative by liking the social media post.
Jason Stacy on Instagram
Jason Stacy on Instagram
Stacy isn’t the only person for the tennis community who has opposed the inclusion of trans women in women’s sports. Tennis legends Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert, too, are vocal about “protecting women’s spaces” and keeping the category “female”-specific.
During the 2024 Paris Olympics, amid the controversy surrounding Algerian gold-medalist boxer Imane Khelif, six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker, too, expressed his view of protecting women’s sport.