At the French Open, Aryna Sabalenka declined to participate in a post-match news conference “for my own mental health and well-being.”
On a sunny Court Philippe Chatrier earlier on Friday, big-serving world No. 2 Sabalenka defeated Russian Rakhimova 6-2, 6-2.
After the game, the Belarussian withdrew from a news conference, stating: “For my own mental health and well-being, I have decided to take myself out of this situation today, and the tournament has supported me in this decision.”
On Wednesday, she got into a heated argument with a Ukrainian journalist about her prior backing of Alexander Lukashenko, the president of Belarus.
Instead, Sabalenka had a news conference on Wednesday when she was questioned about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and her nation’s function as a staging area for Russian troops and weaponry, saying she did not feel comfortable. In an interview with the tournament’s organisers, she said that she did not feel safe.
“Like I always do, I chatted with the media after my match. I am aware that they will continue to ask me some questions that will focus more on politics than my tennis,” she added.
“I have been answering similar questions at tournaments for a number of months now, and I have always been extremely straightforward with my ideas and sentiments. After my matches, I am not bothered by these queries.
“I am aware that I must answer questions from the media on anything unrelated to my tennis or my matches, but on Wednesday, I did not feel secure at my press conference.
“I should be able to feel secure when I give press conferences following my matches. I’ve made the decision to remove myself from this position today for my own mental health and wellbeing, and the competition has supported me in this.
“It hasn’t been an easy few days, and right now my main goal is to keep playing well in Paris.”
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