Roland Garros Paris French Open 2023 Day 10 06/06/2023 Aryna Sabalenka (—) wins quarter final match and Ukrainian Elina Svitolina avoids handshake Photo Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
Aryna Sabalenka would prefer to talk tennis rather than Russia’s invasion of Ukraine after reaching her first French Open semi-final on Friday.
The player from Russian ally Belarus defeated outspoken Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-4 and finally made an appearance in a post-match media conference after ducking out of her previous two, saying she felt “unsafe.”
That feeling has apparently disappeared after a stressful few days in which criticism was heaped on the world No. 2.
“I was feeling disrespected, I didn’t feel comfortable. This is just the way I felt. That’s it.”
She said on Tuesday that she’s over it now, but made a plea to be judged on tennis, not her country’s support of the invasion.
“I don’t support war, meaning I don’t support (Belarus dictator Alexander) Lukashenko right now.
“I don’t want my country to be involved in any conflict; you know where I stand, you have my position. You have my answer.
“I’m not supporting the war.”
She added: “I don’t want sport to be involved in politics: I’m just a tennis player, a 25-years-old tennis player.
“If I would like to be political I wouldn’t be here. I don’t want to be involved in any politics. I just want to be a tennis player.
Main photo:- Roland Garros Paris French Open 2023 Day 10 Aryna Sabalenka (—) wins quarter final match and Ukrainian Elina Svitolina avoids handshake Photo Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
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