Aryna Sabalenka skips post-match press conference, to avoid questions about Ukraine war
1 year, 6 months ago

Aryna Sabalenka skips post-match press conference, to avoid questions about Ukraine war

ABC  

Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka has refused to do an official post-match press conference after a French Open match, claiming she "did not feel safe" when previously questioned about the war in Ukraine. Key points: Aryna Sabalenka said organisers supported her decision not to undertake traditional press duties Belarus is a key military ally of Russia in the conflict The 24-year-old is one of the favourites to win the singles title in Paris The world number two did not comment on reports she supports Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko and refused to "flatly condemn" Russia's invasion of Ukraine when asked by a reporter in a press conference on Wednesday. Sabalenka said organisers had supported her decision not to undertake traditional press duties, instead speaking to a group of selected media following her third-round win over Kamilla Rakhimova. "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 press conference.

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History of this topic

Aryna Sabalenka breaks silence on arch-rival Iga Swiatek’s doping controversy, criticises fans for ‘overreacting’
2 days, 6 hours ago

Aryna Sabalenka breaks silence on arch-rival Iga Swiatek’s doping controversy, criticises fans for ‘overreacting’

Hindustan Times  

Controversy hit women’s tennis recently as Iga Swiatek finished serving a one-month doping ban. The ITIA accepted Swiatek’s defence that the result was positive due to contamination of a regular non-prescription medicine melatonin, which was manufactured and sold in her native country Poland. Aryna Sabalenka broke her silence on Iga Swiatek's doping scandal. 1 Aryna Sabalenka broke her silence on …

Aryna Sabalenka has no issues playing in Saudi Arabia but Coco Gauff ‘concerned’
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Aryna Sabalenka has no issues playing in Saudi Arabia but Coco Gauff ‘concerned’

The Independent  

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our …

Aryna Sabalenka admits she should have taken a break after death of ex-boyfriend
4 months ago

Aryna Sabalenka admits she should have taken a break after death of ex-boyfriend

The Independent  

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Sabalenka was …

Aryna Sabalenka: I should have stopped tennis after ex-boyfriend’s death
4 months ago

Aryna Sabalenka: I should have stopped tennis after ex-boyfriend’s death

The Telegraph  

Aryna Sabalenka, the world No 2, has revealed her mental health was “damaged” in the aftermath of her ex-boyfriend’s death in March. Konstantin Koltsov, a former international ice hockey player, died on March 18 in Florida in what was described by Miami-Dade police as “an apparent suicide” at the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort. Speaking in an interview with The …

Aryna Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur rule out Paris Olympics to avoid risking health
6 months ago

Aryna Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur rule out Paris Olympics to avoid risking health

Hindustan Times  

Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka and two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur ruled themselves out of the Olympic Games in Paris on Monday. Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus plays a shot Both top-10 players said they didn't want to switch from grass at Wimbledon back to clay at Roland Garros for the Olympic tournament and then immediately start the hard-court season in …

Tennis stars Aryna Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur confirm that they will miss Paris Olympics
6 months ago

Tennis stars Aryna Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur confirm that they will miss Paris Olympics

CNN  

CNN — Two of tennis’ biggest stars have announced that they will skip the Olympic Games in Paris next month. 10 and three-time grand slam finalist Ons Jabeur also confirmed that she will miss the Games next month, writing on social media that the change of surfaces would put her health at risk. Quality Sport Images/Getty Images After the clay …

Aryna Sabalenka faces shock defeat in French Open quarterfinals, loses to Mirra Andreeva
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Aryna Sabalenka faces shock defeat in French Open quarterfinals, loses to Mirra Andreeva

Hindustan Times  

Aryna Sabalenka became the second seeded player to face an upset on Wednesday at the French Open quarterfinals, as she faced a three-set defeat at the hands of Mirra Andreeva. The Belarusian second seed faced a 7-6, 4-6, 4-6 defeat against Andreeva, setting up a semi-final clash against Jasmine Paolini of Italy, who defeated Elena Rybakina earlier on the day. …

Playing Aryna Sabalenka will be ‘uncomfortable experience’ after death of boyfriend, says Paula Badosa
9 months ago

Playing Aryna Sabalenka will be ‘uncomfortable experience’ after death of boyfriend, says Paula Badosa

The Telegraph  

Playing Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday will be an “uncomfortable” experience, the Spanish star Paula Badosa has said, as Sabalenka continues to press ahead with her tennis commitments despite the tragic death of her boyfriend. Sabalenka’s boyfriend Konstantin Koltsov passed away some time on Sunday night in what the Miami-Dade police department called an “apparent suicide”. A police statement said that …

Aryna Sabalenka wants shield from ‘hate’ after Victoria Azarenka booing at Wimbledon
1 year, 5 months ago

Aryna Sabalenka wants shield from ‘hate’ after Victoria Azarenka booing at Wimbledon

Firstpost  

Victoria Azarenka, from Belarus, was booed off-court following her defeat by Ukraine’s Svitolina at Wimbledon on Sunday. Earlier on Monday, Aryna Sabalenka backed Elina Svitolina’s call for officials to respond to help shield players from “so much hate”. “If people are going to be focusing only on handshakes or the crowd, quite adrunk crowd, booing in the end, that’s a …

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus booed at Wimbledon after loss to Elena Svitolina of Ukraine
1 year, 5 months ago

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus booed at Wimbledon after loss to Elena Svitolina of Ukraine

Associated Press  

WIMBLEDON, England — Victoria Azarenka said it “wasn’t fair” that she was booed at Wimbledon after her loss to Ukrainian rival Elina Svitolina on Sunday. Azarenka, who’s from Belarus, had just lost a third-set tiebreaker and — knowing that Svitolina does not shake hands with Russian and Belarusian players after matches in protest of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — walked …

Aryna Sabalenka denouncing Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko at the French Open came from being pressured, and is fraught with danger
1 year, 6 months ago

Aryna Sabalenka denouncing Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko at the French Open came from being pressured, and is fraught with danger

ABC  

Aryna Sabalenka has been on the end of a thrashing she usually reserves for on-court opponents as the tennis media and Ukrainian players demanded for months the 25-year-old Australian Open champion denounce the war in Ukraine. Not only did Sabalenka say she does not support the war, she also hit out against Belarusian strongman President Alexander Lukashenko, a staunch ally …

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka breaks silence on Ukraine war, issues clarification over Elina Svitolina's accusation
1 year, 6 months ago

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka breaks silence on Ukraine war, issues clarification over Elina Svitolina's accusation

Hindustan Times  

Aryna Sabalenka, for the first time since the start of this month, faced the press on Tuesday, after snubbing it for being grilled about the war and her country's involvement as a staging ground for Russian weapons and troops. But following her quarterfinal win against Elina Svitolina, Sabalenka did not just break silence on the Ukraine war, she also explained …

Belarus’ Sabalenka waits for a handshake from Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina at French Open, meets media
1 year, 6 months ago

Belarus’ Sabalenka waits for a handshake from Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina at French Open, meets media

Associated Press  

PARIS — Aryna Sabalenka smacked a forehand winner to reach the French Open semifinals for the first time, then strode forward. Although not, apparently, obvious to the second-seeded Sabalenka in that moment; she explained — while speaking with the media after avoiding news conferences after the preceding two contests — that she went to the net out of “instinct.” Nor, …

‘I don’t support the war, I don’t support Lukashenko’: Sabalenka
1 year, 6 months ago

‘I don’t support the war, I don’t support Lukashenko’: Sabalenka

The Hindu  

Belarus tennis star Aryna Sabalenka outrightly condemned her country’s role in the war in Ukraine on Tuesday and insisted she is not a supporter of president Alexander Lukashenko. I don’t support war, meaning I don’t support Lukashenko,” the world number two said after reaching the French Open semifinals by defeating Elina Svitolina of Ukraine. Sabalenka had cancelled two previous press …

'My statement was clear enough...': Svitolina accuses Sabalenka of 'inflaming' French Open crowd after she was booed off
1 year, 6 months ago

'My statement was clear enough...': Svitolina accuses Sabalenka of 'inflaming' French Open crowd after she was booed off

Hindustan Times  

Elina Svitolina has been the story of 2023 French Open. But while Svitolina can only draw more inspiration from her stunning run in Paris, she would definitely want to forget the eventual end, pertaining to act from Sabalenka and the French Open crowd. Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka waits at the net after winning her quarter final match as Ukraine's Elina Svitolina …

Aryna Sabalenka downs Elina Svitolina to reach first French Open semifinal
1 year, 6 months ago

Aryna Sabalenka downs Elina Svitolina to reach first French Open semifinal

Hindustan Times  

World number two Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus powered past Ukraine's Elina Svitolina 6-4 6-4 on Tuesday to reach the French Open semi-finals. Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 6, 2023 Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka reacts during her quarter final match against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne The match was highly anticipated with Svitolina, who last year …

French Open: ‘I don’t support war,’ Belarusian Sabalenka says
1 year, 6 months ago

French Open: ‘I don’t support war,’ Belarusian Sabalenka says

Al Jazeera  

Sabalenka says she does not support President Alexander Lukashenko ‘right now’ after win over Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, who refused to shake her hands. World tennis number two Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka has said she does not support the war in Ukraine and the stance of her country’s president on it, as she resumed her media duties at the French Open. After …

French Open lets Belarus’ Sabalenka skip standard news conference after questions about Ukraine war
1 year, 6 months ago

French Open lets Belarus’ Sabalenka skip standard news conference after questions about Ukraine war

Associated Press  

PARIS — Two years after Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open when she was fined, then threatened with disqualification, for skipping news conferences, another top tennis player — No. Sabalenka, who is from Belarus, didn’t appear at a news conference Friday after reaching the fourth round at Roland Garros for the first time with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over …

French Open lets Belarus' Sabalenka skip standard news conference after questions about Ukraine war
1 year, 6 months ago

French Open lets Belarus' Sabalenka skip standard news conference after questions about Ukraine war

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Two years after Naomi Osaka …

French Open lets Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka skip standard news conference after questions about Ukraine war
1 year, 6 months ago

French Open lets Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka skip standard news conference after questions about Ukraine war

Hindustan Times  

Two years after Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open when she was fined, then threatened with disqualification, for skipping news conferences, another top tennis player — No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion — was allowed to avoid the traditional postmatch session open to all accredited journalists and instead speak Friday with what was described as a …

At French Open, Sabalenka of Belarus refuses to answer questions about war in Ukraine
1 year, 6 months ago

At French Open, Sabalenka of Belarus refuses to answer questions about war in Ukraine

Associated Press  

PARIS — Aryna Sabalenka, a Belarusian tennis player seeded No. After her first-round win Sunday, Sabalenka had said no Russian or Belarusian athletes support the war, but she was asked Wednesday to personally condemn Belarus’ role in supporting Russia’s invasion. “I’ve got no comments to you,” the Australian Open champion said in a press conference after her 7-5, 6-2 victory …

'I have never felt that much hate in the locker room': Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka
1 year, 9 months ago

'I have never felt that much hate in the locker room': Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka

Firstpost  

Aryna Sabalenka said sometimes the tension had gone beyond awkward silences and abrupt conversations. Miami Gardens: Belarus’ world number two Aryna Sabalenka says she has faced “hate” in the women’s tour locker-room but hopes tensions with Ukrainian players will eventually ease. Australian Open champion Sabalenka lost to Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina in Sunday’s Indian Wells final and at the media day …

Aryna Sabalenka 'feels bad' for Ukrainian players amid war tensions
1 year, 9 months ago

Aryna Sabalenka 'feels bad' for Ukrainian players amid war tensions

Firstpost  

Sabalenka said she felt the WTA had been even handed in dealing with players from all countries. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to stir tension in the tennis world, and Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka said Friday that it’s not only Ukrainian players who are feeling the strain. “Of course it’s a lot of tension between us,” Australian Open champion Sabalenka said …

Ukraine’s Tsurenko says she suffered panic attack after chat with WTA chief
1 year, 9 months ago

Ukraine’s Tsurenko says she suffered panic attack after chat with WTA chief

The Hindu  

Ukrainian qualifier Lesia Tsurenko withdrew from her third-round match at Indian Wells against Belarusian second seed Aryna Sabalenka after suffering a panic attack following a chat with the WTA’s chief executive, she said on Monday. Tsurenko, who beat Croatia’s Donna Vekic 2-6 6-2 6-2 on Friday, pulled out of the tournament shortly before her match against Sabalenka was due to …

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