“If I were a politician I would not be here, they are a tennis player, I am 25 years old and I did not come here to talk about politics.” the belarusian Aryna Sabalenka tried to turn the page on accusations that he supports the regime of his country’s president, Alexander Lukashenkosquire of Russia in the invasion of Ukraine.
“I don’t support this war, I don’t want my country to be involved in any conflict. I know my position, I’ve said it several times. But I also don’t want to associate sport with politics,” said the player tennis, who will play in his first semifinal at Roland Garros.
Belarusian beat Ukrainian Elina Svitolinawho did not congratulate him at the end of the game, which drew some boos from the public.
Sabalenka continued and assured: “I don’t support the war means I don’t support Lukashenko.”
He admitted that many photos are circulating of him with the President of Belarus, who has been in office for almost 20 years, and attributed this to the fact that he participated in many parties of Federation Cup where there are authorities.
“At that time nothing bad was happening in Belarus, or in Ukraine, or in Russia,” he added.
Belarusian has been in the eye of the storm since Ukrainian Martha Kostyukhis victim in the first round, accused him of not being personally involved against the war and of hiding in vague words.
During her next press appearance, a Ukrainian journalist would not stop asking her about the war and Sabalenka decided not to attend her press appointment after her next two fights.
The tennis player apologized for those absences and assured that he felt “pressured” and that he was disrespected: “He put the war in my mouth and I felt uncomfortable.”
Source: La Verdad
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