The first racket of Russia humiliated Sabalenka. For the sake of friendship with a Polish informer?

The leadership of the Belarusian Arina Sabalenka in the WTA rankings is documented and virtually no one questions it. Practically – because the first racket of Russia Lyudmila Samsonova suddenly sent another tennis player to the top.

And not just anyone, but the Polish woman Iga Szwiatek, who has repeatedly advocated depriving Russian athletes of the flag.

Very strange behavior of Lyudmila.

Personal sympathy for a Polish woman

In one of her last interviews, Samsonova said that the first racket of the world is Iga Szwiatek from Poland. Sabalenka’s leadership was not mentioned to her.

— The real first racket of the world is Iga. One hundred percent,” Samsonova said, as quoted by The Tennis Letter.

The Russian woman justified her opinion with her personal sympathy for the Polish woman. They talked at the Masters in Beijing, and after winning the final, Shwiatek supported Samsonova.

— Iga was very nice during the award ceremony. She said, “I know it can be hard.” As I began to get to know her better, we became closer. “I felt something special in her,” added Lyudmila.

Lyudmila Samsonova / Photo: © Fred Lee / Stringer / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

“You need to respect your opponents”

Even foreign tennis fans did not understand the statement about the “real first racket”. There was an active discussion on the quote on social networks, and commentators agreed that Lyudmila had gotten something wrong.

— This is a direct jab at Sabalenka. Moreover, it’s completely unnecessary,” said social network user X under the nickname Fahhz.

— Some tennis players need to learn respect for each other. Making such statements is unnecessary. You need to respect your opponents. In general, there is a lot of crap in the WTA now,” wrote Solo Adri.

– Yes, yes, exactly. But the numbers say otherwise. I wonder where the lady who supposedly knows the real number one is? — asked Aized10.

– There is no need to take anything away from Arina. “She has been striving for first place for two years and it is no coincidence that she takes it,” added Martha Collins.

Hater of Russia

With her words, Samsonova not only humiliated Sabalenka, but also supported, in fact, her own hater. Swiatek publicly spoke out against the admission of Russians and Belarusians to international tournaments and argued that the ATP and WTA should have suspended Russia back in February 2022. According to her, sports can serve as a vehicle for political ideas and statements.

Iga Šwiatek / Photo: © Robert Prange / Contributor / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

In March of this year, it was Shwiatek who stirred up a scandal around Anastasia Potapova, who came out to play in a Spartak Moscow T-shirt at a tournament in Indian Wells. Interestingly, the Russian’s opponent was American Jessica Pegula, and she did not react to the red and white colors. But Iga was indignant and even complained to the WTA management.

“It seemed to me that Potapova understands that in modern times you cannot demonstrate your views, even if she supports this team. I spoke with the WTA management and was convinced that in the future there will be fewer such situations. The organization promised to convey to the players that it is impossible to support Russian teams, and I felt calmer,” Swiatek said with hypocrisy in an interview with the Przeglad Sportowy portal.

Be careful

But even if we put aside Iga’s anti-Russian views, then according to the rating she cannot be the first racket of the world. Only second, behind Aryna Sabalenka. Moreover, Swiatek risks ending the year in this status if he performs unsuccessfully at the WTA Final Tournament.

So Lyudmila Samsonova should be more careful in choosing her expressions in public space. Especially in the status of the best tennis player in Russia. Of course, no one canceled her personal sympathy, and she will not be forbidden to admire Iga Swiatek. But you still need to not throw around words about a “real first racket,” especially if they do not correspond to reality.