Sabalenka surprisingly breaks away from ruler Lukashenko
Stand: 07.06.2023
“I don’t support the war,” says Sabalenka after the refused handshake
After her defeat in the quarterfinals of the French Open, Ukraine’s Elina Switolina refused to shake hands with her Belarusian competitor. Now Sabalenka reacted to the scandal. “I don’t support the war,” said the world number two.
The politically explosive tennis duel between Aryna Sabalenka and the Ukrainian Jelina Switolina ends in controversy. World number two Sabalenka causes a stir. After that, the Belarusian ends her press boycott at the French Open and makes a surprising statement.
Dhe Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka surprisingly distanced herself from ruler Alexander Lukashenko after a controversial end to her politically explosive quarterfinals at the French Open. At her first press conference after two media boycotts at the French Open, the 25-year-old tennis star spoke about political issues again after six days. “I don’t support the war, which means I don’t support Lukashenko right now,” said the world number two in Paris on Tuesday.
Previously, Sabalenka had caused a stir when she was waiting for her opponent at the net after the 6: 4, 6: 4 over the Ukrainian Jelina Switolina – even if she had previously stated that she would not shake hands with opponents from Russia and Belarus. Switolina was booed by parts of the audience.
“I don’t know what she was waiting for at the net. I was pretty clear in my statements about the handshake,” Switolina said. When asked if she thought Sabalenka incited the boos, the 28-year-old replied, “Yes, I think so, unfortunately.” Sabalenka dismissed an intentional act: “It was just an instinct, like me always do after all my matches.”
Boos for Ukrainian Switolina after match against Sabalenka
Because of the Russian war of aggression, Ukrainian professionals do not shake hands with their opponents from Russia and Belarus after the games, which is otherwise common in tennis, and do not pose for photos together. She expected the boos, Switolina said. “It wasn’t a surprise to me.”
After critical questions about her attitude towards the war and Lukashenko, Sabalenka had twice previously refused the usual press conference in consultation with the organizers, citing her “mental health”. Instead, she spoke to a representative of the women’s tennis organization WTA, and these statements were made available to journalists. Switolina criticized inequality and recalled the Japanese Naomi Osaka, who had been punished for it in the past. “I think it should be the same for everyone,” she said.
After reaching the semi-finals, Sabalenka answered all questions. Joint photos with Lukashenko in the past she explained with his presence at Fed Cup games in Belarus. “Nothing bad happened in Belarus or in Ukraine or in Russia at the time,” said the Australian Open winner. “I have said it many times that I do not support the war. I don’t want my country to be involved in any conflict.”
“If you ask around internationally, everyone points to Russia. Also the Federal Chancellor
Ukraine accuses Russia of blowing up the Kakhovka Dam, the destruction of which caused major flooding. Moscow claims that Ukrainian troops shelled the facility. Paul Ronzheimer reports from Kiev on the possible background to the explosion.
