Aryna Sabalenka opted out of doing a regular press conference today after some tense exchanges regarding Ukraine after her previous rounds. Sabalenka instead spoke to a few journalists chosen by the Roland Garros organisation.
Sabalenka 'did not feel safe' in previous Roland Garros press conference after Lukashenko questioning
WTAFriday, 02 June 2023 at 17:45
Aryna Sabalenka became one of only a few high profile players to decide to skip media at Roland Garros harking back to the Naomi Osaka incident in 2021.
Thus being so due to the reasoning being for mental health and well being after seeing off Kamilla Rakhimova on Friday afternoon.
Speaking to a select group of media assembled who were picked by the tournament, she did technically take press but said the reasoning surrounded Wednesday's press conference.
In that press conference, she was pressed on President Lukashenko and her support for him while Belarusians were getting tortured, with the moderator having to end the press conference early as Sabalenka wouldn't answer the line of questioning.
The World No.2 has also spoke about her want not for sport and politics to mix amid the ongoing war in Ukraine which has been criticised by her first round opponent Marta Kostyuk who believes she should use her platform to denounce it.
This led to Kostyuk and Sabalenka not shaking hands after their tie which saw the crowd boo in Paris.
"I did not feel safe" - Sabalenka on reasoning behind press snub
As per Tumaini Carayol who released the transcript, here is what Sabalenka said after her victory when quizzed about the second round press conference. She admitted she didn't feel safe.
"After my match I spoke with the media like I normally do. I know they still expect some questions that are more about the politics and not so much about my tennis," said Sabalenka
"For many months now I have answered these questions at tournaments and been very clear in my feelings and my thoughts. These questions do not bother me after my matches. I know that I have to provide answers to the media on things not related to my tennis or my matches. But on Wednesday I did not feel safe in press conference."
"I should be able to feel safe when I do interviews with the journalists after my matches. For my own mental health and well-being, I have decided to take myself out of this situation today and the tournament has supported me in this decision."
"It hasn't been an easy few days, and now my focus is continue to play well here in Paris," she concluded.
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