Aryna Sabalenka: "I did nothing bad to Ukraine"
Aryna Sabalenka also had to comment on the war against Ukraine at the WTA Tour 1000 tournament in Rome.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: May 10, 2023, 01:24 pm
Aryna Sabalenka is the player of the season so far, there's no getting around that. The Belarusian confidently leads the field in the race to the WTA Finals (wherever they take place), after the tournament in Adelaide and the Australian Open on Saturday in Madrid she won her next title. Which of course makes her a co-favorite in Rome with defending champion Iga Swiatek.
In the Foro Italico, Sabalenka will start under a neutral flag like her Russian and Belarusian colleagues, as has been the norm on the WTA and ATP tours since the beginning of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. Medvedev, Sabalenka, Rublev and Co. are still excluded from the team competitions. On the other hand: There are enough disciplines that have decided to completely exclude Russians and Belarusians - ask about biathlon or cross-country skiing.
Sabalenka in Rome against Kenin
And so, before the start of the tournament in the Eternal City, Aryna Sabalenka once again had to take a stand on this topic. "I'm happy to be able to play. The WTA is doing everything it can to handle the situation as best as possible.” For her, one thing in particular has changed: “I have started to just focus on myself and to understand that I have not done anything bad to Ukraine. It's not my fault, it's not the fault of Russian or Belarusian athletes."
Because in truth it looks like this, as Sabalenka continues: "Unfortunately, we have no control over the situation. People expect something from us and we can't do anything. That is the bad thing about the situation.”
Sabalenka starts in Rome after a bye against Sofia Kenin, who was able to prevail against Christian Bucsa in round one after qualifying.
Here the single tableau in Rome
rommap