Belarusian world quantity two Aryna Sabalenka stated she confronted “disgust” within the locker room over her nation’s function in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Australian Open champion was quoted by the BBC as saying that he additionally had “awkward conversations” with members of the gamers’ groups.
Russia’s ally Belarus allowed troops to make use of its territory to launch an invasion final 12 months.
“It was very difficult to understand that there are so many people who hate me for no reason,” Sabalenka, 24, was quoted as saying by BBC Sports.
“I didn’t do anything,” she added.
Players from each international locations have been categorized as impartial athletes because the begin of the battle and have been banned from final 12 months’s Wimbledon.
Sabalenka, who misplaced to Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina within the Indian Wells remaining on Sunday, was talking forward of the beginning of the Miami Open.
“It was really tough for me because I’ve never faced so much hate in a locker room,” the BBC quoted him as saying. “When you might be shedding a match there are a variety of haters on Instagram however I’ve by no means confronted that within the locker room. ,
“I had some fights, not like fights, but I had some awkward conversations with members of their team, not with girls. It was tough. It was [a] difficult period. But, it is getting better now.”
Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko pulled out of a match towards Sabalenka – the 2023 Australian Open champion – at Indian Wells final week.
Tsurenko stated she had a panic assault after a dialog with Steve Simon, chief govt of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), in regards to the sport’s response to the Russian invasion.
The WTA additionally issued a proper warning to Russia’s Anastasia Potapova for carrying a Spartak Moscow soccer shirt forward of her match towards American Jessica Pegula in Indian Wells.
While world primary Inga Swiatek has stated extra consideration ought to be paid to serving to Ukrainian gamers because the battle enters its second 12 months, two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus stated she is “equal” to Swiatek. Does not share opinion”.
The BBC quoted him as saying: “I would encourage him to look at what he has done before commenting. As a player’s council member I am happy to provide facts. It is a way to have a conversation.” can be a extra applicable manner.”
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
