World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka says the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) is doing an excellent job of supporting gamers from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus amid tensions within the locker room following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine final 12 months.
Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko withdrew from her match with Belarusian Sabalenka at Indian Wells because of what she mentioned was a panic assault triggered by a chat with WTA chief govt Steve Simon about tennis’s response to Russia’s invasion.
Belarus has been a staging floor for what Moscow calls a “special military operation”.
The top-ranked Iga Swiatek known as for extra help to be supplied to Ukrainian gamers after Tsurenko’s pullout and mentioned the actions taken by the tennis management was not sufficient.
“Nobody can control the emotions of others. I think the WTA are doing their best,” Sabalenka mentioned after reaching the Indian Wells last on Friday.
Sabalenka mentioned there was nonetheless rigidity between gamers however particular person athletes had not executed something mistaken.
“Not me, not Russian athletes, not Belarusian athletes, not one of us did something bad. So what else I can I say? I think the WTA are doing a really great job to support both sides,” Sabalenka mentioned.
“All of us are trying to keep calm in the locker room and keep understanding that this is not our fault and that all of us understand Ukrainians and we really feel bad for them.”
Sabalenka takes on Russian-born Kazakh Elena Rybakina within the last on Sunday in southern California, a rematch of their Australian Open title conflict which the Belarusian received for her first grand slam crown.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
