Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka has obtained “hate” from folks within the sport over Belarus’ function in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Belarussian says she has by no means skilled such tensions within the locker room earlier than and has been confronted with “weird conversations” after her nation aided Russia within the conflict.
“It was really tough for me because I’ve never faced that much hate in the locker room,” the 24-year-old mentioned at a press convention to preview the Miami Open.
“There are a lot of haters on Instagram when you’re losing matches, but in the locker room I’ve never faced that.
“It was actually powerful to know that there is so many individuals who hate me for no motive. I did nothing.
“It was really tough but now it’s getting better.
“I had some, not like fights, however I had some bizarre conversations with, not the ladies, however with members of their workforce. It was powerful. It was (a) powerful interval. But, now it is getting higher.”
The war has perhaps caused more tension in tennis than any other sport, with Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian players regularly coming up against each other.
Russian players have been banned from playing under their country’s flag, but that has not been enough to appease a host of Ukrainian players on the tour.
Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko pulled out of her match with Sabalenka at Indian Wells last week, citing a panic attack she had suffered after discussions with Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) chief executive Steve Simon, while Russia’s Anastasia Potapova was handed a formal warning for wearing a Spartak Moscow shirt on court.
Russian gamers have been banned from competing in final summer season’s British grass-court season as a part of authorities sanctions, however the Lawn Tennis Association obtained hefty six-figure fines by each the ATP and the WTA, whereas Wimbledon was stripped of any rating factors.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
