Elina
Svitolina criticized the allowance for Aryna Sabalenka to skip press
conferences and made a reference to Naomi Osaka.
Ukrainian
tennis player Elina Svitolina had a great run at the 2023 French Open, reaching
the quarterfinals where she lost in straight sets to Belarusian player Aryna
Sabalenka. There was anticipation about what could happen between these two
renowned players, especially considering Svitolina's criticism of Russian and
Belarusian players since the beginning of the war.
Svitolina
did not greet Sabalenka at the end of the Roland Garros quarter-final, despite the latter approaching the net to say goodbye.
However, Svitolina not greeting Russian and Belarusian players is something she
has been doing and has explained her reasons on several occasions.
After the
match, the 2018 WTA Finals champion compared Sabalenka's decision not to
participate in press conferences to Naomi Osaka's withdrawal in 2021, where it
was warned that she would be disqualified if she did not attend interviews,
ultimately leading to Osaka's personal decision to withdraw in the second
round.
"I
think the rules should be the same for everyone. Why was Naomi fined for
missing press conferences and this time there's no fine? If there was no fine
for Osaka, maybe it would be different. It should be the same for every
situation," Svitolina said.
On the
tennis side, Svitolina's recent weeks will see her rise to the World No. 73
ranking as of Monday, which is quite impressive considering that just three
weeks ago she was ranked World No. 508, after taking a break due to the
emotional impact caused by the war in her country.
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
Aryna Sabalenka gets the better of Elina Svitolina to advance to the French Open semi-finals! 📈
The two do not share a handshake at the net ❌
#RolandGarros