Rybakina eliminates two-time champ Azarenka at Indian Wells

I am not what I consider a major tennis fan, though I do watch Women's tennis fairly often. But I feel compelled to write about the current crisis and its effects on athletes. In particular, Viktoria Azarenka's uncharacteristic uncontrollable emotional breakdown yesterday.

Why is no one addressing Azarenka's meltdown in the late stages of her match yesterday against Rybakina? It was disturbing, and did not seem to be a physical nor medical issue. It was heartbreaking to witness. She never fully regained her composure, yet fought on, and with no apparent physical constraints. Her play was strong. However her face revealed sadness.

If she had what appeared to be a meltdown over the pressures of her country's participation in Ukraine, then someone or some organization (preferably not the WTA), should address the non-political, nonpartisan Russian and Belarus players' who are indirectly trapped in this sad situation. Innocent athletes caught-up in a war and/or government they do not support should be protected.

Azarenka, for example, has made a life for herself and her young son in America after years of a severe custody battle beginning in 2017, when he was 8 years old. She left Belarus for many reasons, moved to Arizona, now relocated in Boca Raton, FL. She seems to be a good person, and has intentions of raising her son in the USA. Yet she has to bear the stigma now of all Russians and Belarussians... that they are bad people.

As might be expected, many of her colleagues are supportive; with a very few voicing their displeasure of Russian and Belarussian players being allowed to compete. The loudest of those 'protestors' being players who would benefit from fewer top-seeded opponents!

Going forward, why not ban those players who have shown support and more for the 'Putins' of the world -- but leave those with no such partisan history free to participate in their sport?

Let me point out one example of the indecency in sports/politics.
The NHL is allowing Alex Ovechkin to continue playing and reaping rewards (millions of U.S. Dollars which he sends back home to Russia). Ovechkin has a long and public history of being Comrade Putin's pal. He's been brazen enough to post photos/videos of his several meetings with Vlad. Ovechkin even openly campaigned for Putin's dictatorship position on his website, and (no surprise) refuses to denounce in any way Putin's sick attacks on Ukraine. Yet Ovechkin gets a pass.

Victoria Azarenka seems to be the total opposite of the Ovechkins in this world. But she and her Russian/Belarus colleagues are being singled-out as bad people. Some, like Azarenka, who no longer live in their homelands and have even spoken out against their respective dictators.

With no news on Azarenka's condition, nor even a mention of her meltdown yesterday, I can only hope she knows the majority of people do not hold her accountable for the actions of the corrupt "leader" of Belarus. That most true Americans welcome her as a resident in the USA... and we wish her well. She should not have to bear these burdens forced upon her on her own. No one innocent person should.

I can only surmise that the media and WTA are blatantly avoiding the subject of her meltdown at Indian Wells. This makes the media and WTA complicit in the coverup of a subject they wish would simply just go away. Guess what? That is the type of behavior which results in such things as the obliteration of a country... and potentially, Democracy itself.