Aryna Sabalenka, the world number two in tennis, has faced “hate” in the locker room due to her country’s alliance with Russia in the invasion of Ukraine, according to her statement. Belarus, an ally of Russia, permitted troops to use its land to start the invasion. As a result, players from both Belarus and Russia were categorized as neutral athletes since the beginning of the conflict and were barred from participating in last year’s Wimbledon.
Sabalenka, who won the Australian Open last year, has said that she has had “weird conversations” with members of player’s teams, making it really tough for her. She revealed that there were so many people who hated her for no reason, despite not doing anything. She further added that the comments on Instagram when she was losing matches were nothing compared to the hate she received in the locker room.
Tennis players express concerns over Ukrainian conflict
The Ukrainian conflict has brought up concerns among tennis players, with Sabalenka and other players from Belarus and Russia facing criticism. Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko withdrew from a match against Sabalenka – the 2023 Australian Open champion – at Indian Wells last week, claiming that she had a panic attack after a chat with Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) chief executive Steve Simon about the sport’s response to Russia’s invasion.
World number one Iga Swiatek has called for more attention to be given to helping Ukrainian players as the conflict enters a second year. Two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, however, has stated that she does not share the same opinion as Swiatek. Azarenka added that she would encourage Swiatek to look at the things that have been done before she makes comments. As a player council member, she is happy to provide the facts, which she believes would be a more appropriate way to have that conversation.
Sabalenka’s tennis career
Despite the criticism, Sabalenka has had a successful tennis career, which has seen her rise to become one of the world’s top players. She lost in the final of Indian Wells to Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina on Sunday, and she was speaking before the start of the Miami Open. Sabalenka’s statement about facing “hate” in the locker room highlights the impact of politics on sports and how it can affect the relationships between players.
Sabalenka’s statement about facing “hate” in the locker room due to Belarus and Russia’s involvement in the Ukrainian conflict has brought up concerns among tennis players. The conflict has affected players from both countries, with some facing criticism and others calling for more attention to be given to helping Ukrainian players. The WTA has issued a warning to a Russian player for wearing a football shirt, and its chief has stated that the organization is supporting Ukrainian players during this period. Despite the criticism, Sabalenka’s tennis career has been successful, with her becoming one of the world’s top players.
