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 shame.” Svitolina and her fellow Ukraine players all refused to shake hands with Russians and Belarusians at the recent French Open. “So I think this is the right to do.” Belarusian second seed Sabalenka, who beat Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova on Monday to reach the quarter-finals, backed Svitolina’s call. The Russian added: “I think the people didn’t know the story behind it, and that’s why it happened.” Personal decision All England Club chief executive Sally Bolton said Wimbledon had no plans to issue a statement.

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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, 19 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 withdraws from Wimbledon 2024 with shoulder injury; Russian lucky loser Erika Andreeva enters draw
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Aryna Sabalenka withdraws from Wimbledon 2024 with shoulder injury; Russian lucky loser Erika Andreeva enters draw

Hindustan Times  

Aryna Sabalenka has opted to withdraw from the Wimbledon Championships due to a shoulder injury, the Grand Slam organisers announced on Monday. Sabalenka is replaced in the main draw by Russian lucky loser Erika Andreeva. Sabalenka's replacement will face American qualifier Emina Bektas in the first round of the Grand Slam event. Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka reacts as she plays against …

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. …

WTA makes statement on Wimbledon booing episode after Victoria Azarenka blasts 'drunk' crowd
1 year, 5 months ago

WTA makes statement on Wimbledon booing episode after Victoria Azarenka blasts 'drunk' crowd

Hindustan Times  

Day after Wimbledon chief spoke up on the unfortunate booing incident against Victoria Azarenka on Court 1 on Sunday night for not shaking hands with Ukrainian star Elina Svitolina, the Women's Tennis Association has now broken silence on the matter as they released a statement. Victoria Azarenka of Belarus leaves the court after being defeated by Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in …

‘War made me stronger’: Ukrainian Elina Svitolina upsets No. 1 Iga Swiatek
1 year, 5 months ago

‘War made me stronger’: Ukrainian Elina Svitolina upsets No. 1 Iga Swiatek

LA Times  

The last time Elina Svitolina was a Grand Slam semifinalist — twice, actually, in 2019 — she was pursuing the usual trappings of success in professional sports: trophies, money and fame. “Also, because I just started to play again, I have different pressures,” Svitolina said after kneeling down, then covering her face with her hands, when Swiatek missed one last …

Wimbledon chief breaks silence on Victoria Azarenka episode, issues sharp warning they 'can't control' booing
1 year, 5 months ago

Wimbledon chief breaks silence on Victoria Azarenka episode, issues sharp warning they 'can't control' booing

Hindustan Times  

It was a disappointing end to a riveting clash on Court 1 on Sunday night between Elina Svitolina and Victoria Azarenka as the former world no.1 was booed off the court leaving her disgruntled. It was a dramatic clash wth Svitolina claiming her first ever career win against Azarenka after fight back twice in the three-setter tie to reach the …

Wimbledon 2023: Victoria Azarenka blasts 'unfair' crowd after being booed off court
1 year, 5 months ago

Wimbledon 2023: Victoria Azarenka blasts 'unfair' crowd after being booed off court

Firstpost  

Victoria Azarenka walked off Court 1 to the sound of boos after the Belarusian and Ukrainian Elina Svitolina didn’t shake hands. Victoria Azarenka called the Wimbledon crowd “unfair” and “drunk” after she was booed off Court 1 following her defeat to Elina Svitolina in a politically charged clash. As has become a common feature, Svitolina did not shake hands with …

Victoria Azarenka Blasts 'Unfair' and 'Drunk' Wimbledon Crowd After Being Booed
1 year, 5 months ago

Victoria Azarenka Blasts 'Unfair' and 'Drunk' Wimbledon Crowd After Being Booed

News 18  

Victoria Azarenka blasted the Wimbledon crowd as “unfair” and “drunk” after she was booed off Centre Court following her defeat to Elina Svitolina in a politically charged clash on Sunday. Ukraine’s Svitolina came through 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 after two hours and 46 minutes of thrilling shotmaking on Court One to set up a quarter-final clash with world number one Iga …

Wimbledon 2023: Azarenka booed off court for failing to offer Svitolina obligatory handshake
1 year, 5 months ago

Wimbledon 2023: Azarenka booed off court for failing to offer Svitolina obligatory handshake

The Hindu  

Win or lose, Victoria Azarenka knew there would be no handshake offered by Ukrainian rival Elina Svitolina at the end of Sunday’s Wimbledon contest that had been billed as the ‘battle of the mums’. Calling the reaction “unfair”, Azarenka did not want to make a big deal of it, realising that perhaps the crowd were not aware as to why …

Wimbledon 2023: Svitolina comes out on top in blockbuster battle with Azarenka
1 year, 5 months ago

Wimbledon 2023: Svitolina comes out on top in blockbuster battle with Azarenka

The Hindu  

It turned out to be the mother of all battles and Victoria Azarenka produced some telling blows in an electrifying contest but in the end she lacked the chutzpah to prevent Elina Svitolina from securing a place in the Wimbledon quarterfinals. READ:Swiatek comes back to beat Belinda Bencic and reach the quarterfinals Bizarrely, the crowd booed Azarenka as she left …

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 …

‘You know I’m not Russian, right?’: Victoria Azarenka left confused as reporter mixes up her nationality in Wimbledon
1 year, 5 months ago

‘You know I’m not Russian, right?’: Victoria Azarenka left confused as reporter mixes up her nationality in Wimbledon

Hindustan Times  

Opening day of Wimbledon 2023 saw former grand slam champions take to the courts to put on a show, and amongst them was Belarusian former world number one Victoria Azarenka. Belarusian athletes were banned from Wimbledon 2022, including Azarenka and her compatriot Aryna Sabalenka, due to their role in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Slightly taken aback, Azarenka answered “You …

Aryna Sabalenka ‘not going to talk about politics’ on Wimbledon return
1 year, 5 months ago

Aryna Sabalenka ‘not going to talk about politics’ on Wimbledon return

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. Following last …

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, …

'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 …

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 …

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' 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 …

Tennis should have banned Russian, Belarusian players: Swiatek
1 year, 8 months ago

Tennis should have banned Russian, Belarusian players: Swiatek

The Hindu  

Tennis missed an opportunity to send a strong message to Moscow by failing to impose a blanket ban on players from Russia and its ally Belarus after the invasion of Ukraine, world number one Iga Swiatek said. Wimbledon banned players from the two countries last year after the invasion, which Moscow calls a “special military operation”, but said in March …

Wimbledon to accept Russian and Belarusian players as ‘neutral’ athletes
1 year, 8 months ago

Wimbledon to accept Russian and Belarusian players as ‘neutral’ athletes

The Hindu  

Wimbledon will allow Russian and Belarusian players to compete at the grasscourt Grand Slam as ‘neutrals’ this year under certain conditions, having banned players from the two countries last year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, this year’s conditions include prohibiting “expressions of support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine”, which Moscow calls a special military operation, and prohibiting entry by …

'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 …

Wimbledon player ban changed ‘nothing’, says Sabalenka
1 year, 11 months ago

Wimbledon player ban changed ‘nothing’, says Sabalenka

The Hindu  

World number five Aryna Sabalenka said on Sunday that Wimbledon’s ban on Russian and Belarusian players last year achieved “nothing” and that she “really hoped” it would change course in 2023. Russian and Belarusian players, including Sabalenka, were eventually barred from Wimbledon with both the ATP and WTA -- the men’s and women’s governing bodies -- stripping the Grand Slam …

Aryna Sabalenka Hopes Wimbledon Will Be 'More Open' to Return of Russian Players
2 years ago

Aryna Sabalenka Hopes Wimbledon Will Be 'More Open' to Return of Russian Players

News 18  

World number five Aryna Sabalenka is hoping Wimbledon organisers will be “a bit more open” to the idea of allowing Belarusians and Russians play in the 2023 edition. The Belarusian, a semi-finalist in the tournament in 2021, was one of several high-ranked players blocked from Wimbledon earlier this year after the All England Club implemented a ban on Russian and …

Belarus' VIctoria Azarenka dropped from Ukraine exhibition at US Open
2 years, 4 months ago

Belarus' VIctoria Azarenka dropped from Ukraine exhibition at US Open

Hindustan Times  

Two-time major champion and former No 1 Victoria Azarenka was dropped Wednesday from a pre-US Open exhibition event raising money for humanitarian assistance in Ukraine. At least one Ukrainian tennis player, Marta Kostyuk, questioned having a Belarusian player participate in the US Tennis Association's "Tennis Plays for Peace Exhibition," scheduled for Wednesday night in Louis Armstrong Stadium at Flushing Meadows. …

Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina won't play Russian opponent unless tours act
2 years, 9 months ago

Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina won't play Russian opponent unless tours act

The Hindu  

Top-seeded Elina Svitolina, a 27-year-old professional tennis player from Ukraine, says she will withdraw from the Monterrey Open rather than face a Russian opponent at the Mexican tournament unless tennis's governing bodies follow the International Olympic Committee’s lead and insist that players from Russia and Belarus are only identified as “neutral athletes.” Svitolina wrote Monday on Twitter that she did …

Elina Svitolina: Worried for her parents, Ukrainian tennis star says she has been suffering sleepless nights
2 years, 9 months ago

Elina Svitolina: Worried for her parents, Ukrainian tennis star says she has been suffering sleepless nights

CNN  

CNN — Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina says she has been suffering sleepless nights following the Russian invasion of her home country as she worries about her family and friends back home, describing what has happened as a “horrible time for all Ukrainians.” The 27-year-old, who was in Monterrey, Mexico, for a tournament, said on Sunday that she is terrified …

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