Belarusian tennis star feels hate in dressing room: “I didn’t do anything”

“It was really hard for me to understand that there are now so many people who hate me for no reason. I didn’t do anything,” said the 24-year-old from Minsk.

Belarus serves as a base for Russian troops and is an ally of Russia, but has not yet entered the war.

The Australian Open winner had recently reached the final in Indian Wells, but lost it to Kazakh Elena Rybakina. During the tournament, Ukraine’s Lesia Zurenko withdrew from the tournament because of a panic attack before her third-round match against Sabalenka. The reason for this was an insensitive conversation between WTA boss Steve Simon and her about the ongoing war, she later said.

different opinion

As a result, world number one Iga Swiatek from Poland called for more support for tennis professionals from Ukraine. Two-time Grand Slam winner Victoria Asarenka from Belarus does not share Swiatek’s opinion.

“I would encourage them to look at what things have (already) been done. As a member of the Player Council, I will be happy to provide the facts,” says Asarenka.

Sabalenka said she has nothing against the Ukrainian people and feels for them. She had had “strange conversations” with some of the players’ team members over the past year. “Now it’s getting better,” she reported.