Aryna Sabalenka ducked a mandatory post-match media conference after reaching the French Open fourth round on Friday, with the Belarus second seed instead speaking to one journalist from the tournament organisation.
The Australian Open champion was said to be keen to avoid any more confrontations and questions over the invasion of Ukraine by Belarus ally Russia.
Sabalenka will reportedly not be subject to the usual USD 20,000 WTA fine for skipping a mandatory media conference, as she cleared her action with organisers beforehand and did answer match questions.
In her previous session on Wednesday, she refused to outright condemn the invasion, telling a Ukrainian journalist: “I’ve got no comments to you.”
She said she did not feel “safe” in the media room.
“For many months now I have answered these questions at tournaments and been very clear in my feelings and my thoughts,” Sabalenka said.
“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 should be able to feel safe when I do interviews with the journalists after my matches.
“For my own mental health and well-being, I have decided to take myself out of this situation today, and the tournament has supported me in this decision.
“It hasn’t been an easy few days, and now my focus is continue to play well here in Paris.”
Main photo: Aryna Sabalenka (—) FFT
