World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka didn’t undertake her ordinary media duties on the French Open citing psychological well being issues after her third-round win over Kamilla Rakhimova.
The Belarusian second seed was concerned in a tense alternate with a Ukrainian journalist on Wednesday over her earlier help for Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko.
“For many months now I have answered these questions at tournaments and been very clear in my feelings and my thoughts,” mentioned Sabalenka.
“These questions do not bother me after my matches. I know that I have to provide answers to the media on things not related to my tennis or my matches but, on Wednesday, I did not feel safe in the press conference.
“I ought to have the ability to really feel protected once I do interviews with the journalists after my matches. For my very own psychological well being and well-being, I’ve determined to take myself out of this case at this time, and the match has supported me on this choice.
“It hasn’t been an easy few days, and now my focus is continue to play well here in Paris.”
The Australian Open champion was additionally requested questions in regards to the warfare after her first-round victory over Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, who refused to shake her hand and was booed off courtroom.
Third seed Jessica Pegula additionally declined to do a press convention following the frustration of her 6-1 6-3 loss to twenty eighth seed Elise Mertens.
The American, whose preparations have been disrupted by meals poisoning, didn’t make the quarter-finals for less than the second time within the final six grand slams.
Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, in the meantime, didn’t shake arms with Russian opponent Anna Blinkova on the finish of her 2-6 6-2 7-5 victory.
Svitolina gave a thumbs-up and exchanged just a few phrases with Blinkova however didn’t supply her hand.
Svitolina will subsequent play one other Russian, Daria Kasatkina, who has been probably the most vocal of the Russian and Belarusian opponents in talking out towards the warfare.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
