Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, the world No.2, has distanced herself from her nation’s president and involvement in Russia’s struggle on Ukraine.
“I don’t want my country to be in any conflict, I don’t support the war,” Sabalenka instructed a press convention after her quarter-final victory towards Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina on the French Open.
“I don’t support war, meaning I don’t support (Belarus President) Alexander Lukashenko right now.”
But Svitolina accused Sabalenka of including gasoline to the hearth by standing on the internet ready for a handshake she knew would by no means occur on the finish of their quarter-final on Tuesday.
The Ukrainian additionally queried why Sabalenka had not been discover for skipping media duties, as is the norm.
Sabalenka didn’t attend her two earlier press conferences final week, citing psychological well being causes and saying she didn’t really feel protected after being grilled about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a “special military operation”, and Belarus getting used as a staging floor for Russian troops.
“I really felt bad not coming here. I couldn’t sleep. Like all those bad feelings was in my head, I couldn’t fall asleep. I felt really bad not coming here,” Sabalenka defined.
“I don’t regret the decisions. I felt really disrespected, and I felt really bad. I mean, grand slam, it’s enough pressure to handle, and I just tried to focus on myself, on my game,” she stated.
“I really hope that you guys will understand me, my feelings. You know that I really respect all of you… You can ask whatever you want. You will get all the information.
“But within the final press convention, I felt like my press convention grew to become a political TV present, and I’m not skilled in politics. I’m only a tennis participant.”
Svitolina had warned she would not shake hands with players from Russia or Belarus and said of her opponent’s behaviour: “I do not know what she was ready for, as a result of my statements have been clear sufficient concerning the handshake.”
Svitolina was booed by the crowd as she walked straight to her bench after losing the match 6-4 6-4.
“I used to be anticipating that and it was not a shock for me,” she said of the jeers, which she also received when not shaking hands with Russia’s Daria Kasatkina in the previous round.
Asked if Sabalenka was looking to inflame the situation by standing at the net instead of also walking back to her bench, Svitolina said: “Yeah, I believe so.”
“My preliminary response, was like, what are you doing? Because, in all my press conferences I made my place clear.
“I made multiple statements that I’m not shaking hands, and she played obviously Marta (Kostyuk of Ukraine) as well in the first round. So it’s quite simple.”
On Sabalenka lacking press conferences Svitolina stated: “It should be equal for everyone. Like, for example, why (Japan’s) Naomi (Osaka) got fined last time and this time there is no fine for the player, who also skips the press conference..
In 2021, former world No.1 Osaka was fined $US15,000 ($A22,500) for skipping a post-match press conference at the French Open and threatened with tough sanctions by the board of the four grand slam tournaments.
The Japanese participant subsequently withdrew from the match citing psychological well being considerations and later stated she had been battling melancholy and nervousness for years.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
