"Obviously, I want peace": Aryna Sabalenka stays focused amid Ukrainian player’s harsh words

Aryna Sabalenka responded to the strong criticisms from Ukrainian player Oleksandra Oliynykova – a debutant at the Australian Open who recently stated “I feel like I’m living alongside dangerous people,” referring to Russian and Belarusian players and her position on the war.

The Ukrainian directly targeted the 4-time Grand Slam champion: “I’m talking, for example, about the world No. 1, Sabalenka. Did you know that she signed the list supporting Lukashenko in 2020? During the protests in Belarus, when the streets were covered in blood because people defending democracy and demanding fair elections were being repressed and beaten—she signed it and declared that Lukashenko was her president.”

The 2-time Australian Open champion faced the cameras after her second-round triumph at the Australian Open, having smashed China’s Zhuoxuan Bai (No. 702) in a match where the world No. 1 barely conceded four games (6-3, 6-1), securing her place in the third round.

Sabalenka, however, did not want to focus on her Ukrainian colleague’s comments, and dismissed making any new statements regarding the situation between Ukraine and Russia. “Well, I've spoken a lot about that before,” she said in press conference. “Obviously, I want peace and if I could change anything, I would definitely do that. Other than that, I have nothing else to say. I just want to look ahead to the next round again.”

The world No. 1 had already been involved in controversy a week earlier after the Adelaide International final, when Marta Kostyuk did not shake her hand at the net after the final, nor offer any words of congratulations during the trophy ceremony – a habitual act of sportsmanship in tennis – but which the Ukrainian chose not to do directly towards Sabalenka.

Sabalenka now reaches 30 victories at Melbourne Park and has reached at least the Round of 32 on seven occasions – including the last six consecutive appearances since 2021. Without a doubt, Sabalenka feels at home in Melbourne, and after three finals contested (and two titles won), there are not many names that can threaten the Belarusian’s dominance.

Sabalenka not only has 22 wins in her last 23 matches in Melbourne, but she has also won 45 of the last 50 sets she played there – something only surpassed by a few great legends: Steffi Graf, Martina Hingis, Monica Seles, and Serena Williams. “That sounds crazy and surreal, to be honest. And I just never thought that people will kind of like compare me to these names, even though I'm really far away from their achievements.”

In the third round, Sabalenka will face the winner between Emma Raducanu and Austrian Anastasia Potapova, who will play this same Wednesday, January 21, during the Australian afternoon. The world No. 1 referred to a possible confrontation against the British player, who has given her tough battles in previous encounters, including a dramatic decision at Cincinnati Open, defined in a third-set tiebreak.

“She’s a great player. I’m happy to see her back on her top level and moving well. You can see that she’s a fighter. She’s always fighting,” she said. “It’s never easy. You always have to be focused and ready to fight whenever, you know. And that’s why I enjoy it because it’s always great, great battles against her. A very delicate one.”

“It doesn’t matter what the head-to-head looks like. It’s always a new match. It’s always a new battle. Every player is getting better, improving,” Sabalenka added. “Also, when you go against the top-ranking player, you have nothing to lose, so you play more free. They always bring the best battle, which I love. It’s a great challenge for me. I look at each match as a new match, new opportunity. I’ve also been working really hard.”

“For me, it doesn’t matter what was in the past. For me, it’s the new match. Obviously, I’m going to watch their match and see if there are any changes, and we’ll move from there.”