Aryna Sabalenka - "If I could, I would stop the war"
The Belarusian Aryna Sabaleka also had to comment on Russia's war in Ukraine at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart.
by Florian Goosman from Stuttgart
last edit:
Apr 18, 2023, 11:43 pm
Some time ago, Sabalenka addressed the hatred in the locker room that sometimes surrounds her - after Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine last year, precisely with the support of Belarus.
Little has changed in the difficult atmosphere, the second in the world rankings explained in her opening press conference in Stuttgart. "I definitely feel some people looking at me strangely. And maybe some hate too," she said. But she realized that she had not done anything bad towards Ukraine. "There are people who hate me because I was born in Belarus. It's ultimately their decision, I can't control it." Being hated by other people for practically nothing is not the best feeling, "but it is what it is."
The fact that Sabalenka's successes were publicly highlighted by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko "certainly doesn't help," said Sabalenka. "It can comment what it wants. I have nothing to do with politics. I'm just an athlete - yes, from Belarus - and I'm trying to do the best in my sport, to focus on myself."
She also doesn't know what to do if Ukrainians hate her even more after Lukashenko's speech. "If it makes them feel better to hate me, they can do that. If I could end the war I would, but unfortunately that's not in my hands, it's not in my control."
She tries to spend little time on the Internet so as not to notice too much, Sabalenka continues. "That way I'm able to focus on myself and my game and not get too down about this situation."
Sabalenka meets Barbora Krejcikova in her opening game tonight.
For a single draw at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
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