(Indian Wells) “Of course there is a lot of tension between us”, admitted the Belarusian world No.2 Aryna Sabalenka, Friday, about the relations, in the context of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, between players and players from the three countries.
“But I remain convinced that I did nothing wrong to the Ukrainians – neither me nor the Russians”, defended the winner of the last Australian Open, after her victory at the expense of the Greek Maria Sakkari, for reach the WTA 1000 final in Indian Wells, California.
“None of us has control over this situation. We all try to stay calm in the locker room… we all understand Ukrainians and we feel really bad for them,” she added.
More than a year after the Russian invasion in Ukraine, with the support of Belarus, tennis is still struggling to manage the situation in its tournaments. The players of these two nations compete under neutral flag, but the chance of the tables can very well oppose them to Ukrainians or Ukrainians.
And the tension escalated a notch this week, when a player from this country, Lesia Tsurenko withdrew just before meeting Sabalenka at 3e round.
Tsurenko then explained to the Ukrainian site Big Tennis, having suffered a “panic attack” after a conversation with the boss of the WTA on the consequences of the war in his country.
Polish world No.1 Iga Swiatek reacted, saying she understood Tsurenko. “Honestly, I respect Ukrainian women a lot, because if a bomb fell in my country or my house was destroyed, I don’t know if I could bear it.”
“No one can control other people’s emotions. And I think the WTA is doing its best in this regard to support both parties,” said Sabalenka, before going on: “Tsurenko’s withdrawal is not due to a panic attack or the political situation “.
“I think there is something more. I found myself in a very difficult situation last year with his coach, because of the way he behaved with me. I think this guy put a lot of pressure on her, and that’s why it happened, ”she continued, without giving further details on this alleged incident.
“I went through so many hard times, but unfortunately I can’t say it, because, after all, who is going to believe the Belarusian girl? The more I talk, the better I stop,” Sabalenka concluded.
