Aryna Salabenka boycotts French Open post-match presser to avoid another round of test questions over ties to Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko… saying withdrawal is for her own ‘sanity and well-being’
- Aryna Sabalenka boycotts her post-match press conference at Roland-Garros
- The Australian Open champion was asked about his ties to Alexander Lukashenko
- Sabalenka claimed it was in the interest of his mental health not to press
The most turbulent French Open week in recent times continued today with women’s second seed Aryna Sabalenka boycotting her mandatory post-match press conference.
The Australian Open champion from Belarus instead granted a hand-picked media audience after reaching the fourth round of the tournament.
After her previous match, Sabalenka was interviewed by a journalist from the Donbass region of Ukraine, representing Tribuna.Comabout his ties to Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko.
These have already been well documented and the player, clearly uncomfortable, declined to comment.
The French Open declined to reveal who exactly had been assigned to speak to Sabalenka, who told her interviewer: “For several months I have been answering these questions at tournaments and I have been very clear in my feelings and thoughts.” I know I have to give answers to the media on things unrelated to my tennis or my matches, but on Wednesday I did not feel safe in the press conference.
Aryna Sabalenka boycotted her post-match press conference at Roland-Garros today
Sabalenka has previously been asked about her ties to Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko
“I should be able to feel safe doing interviews with journalists after my games. For my own sanity and well-being, I decided to get myself out of this situation today, and the tournament supported me in that decision.
“It hasn’t been easy the past few days, and now my goal is to keep playing well here in Paris.”
Sabalenka, like many Russian players, is having a successful Roland Garros and is one of the favorites for the title.
The Australian Open stayed away from the presser in favor of his sanity
Her avoidance of the press, for which she will not be fined, adds to the eventful atmosphere of a week which also saw Novak Djokovic make a statement on Serb claims on Kosovo.
Questions about Russia and Ukraine abounded in press conferences and on the pitch there was an excess of boos, even by tournament standards.
This afternoon, Ukrainian Elina Svitolina beat Russian Anna Blinkova 2-6 6-2 7-5 to advance to the round of 16. Then Svitolina recognized her opponent but stopped short of shaking hands at the net.
