Aryna Sabalenka harassment over Ukraine war continues, reporter asks absurd questions during French Open press conference after beating Marta Kostyuk

Aryna Sabalenka was quizzed about her stance on the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

Aryna Sabalenka harassment over Ukraine war continues, reporter asks absurd questions during French Open press conference after beating Marta Kostyuk

Aryna Sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka progressed into the second round of the 2023 French Open, as she defeated Marta Kostyuk in straight sets on Sunday. The Ukrainian refused to shake hands with the 2023 Australian Open champion, which soon became a talking point in the media.

Sabalenka has often been bombarded with questions relating to her stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The Belarusian was asked a very unusual question in her post-match press conference, which certainly upset her. One of the reporters asked the second seed if she was twisting the entire scenario to her advantage, and trying to portray the Ukrainian’s hate towards her.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K4pJZIssqk

Aryna Sabalenka has also been targeted several times for not being vocal about her support towards Ukraine. However, the reigning Madrid Open champion clarified that she certainly does not support the war, however, she finds no necessity in being so vocal about it.

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“About the war situation, I said it many, many times: Nobody in this world, Russian athletes or Belarusian athletes, support the war. Nobody. How can we support the war? Nobody, normal people will never support it. Why we have to go loud and say that things — this is like 1+1=2,” she said.

Keep Exploring: Who are Marta Kostyuk’s parents, Oleg Kostyuk and Talina Beiko?

Aryna Sabalenka says she is more positive off the court

Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka stated that she is naturally a positive person, something which her aggression on the court does not evidently show. The Belarusian never shies away from showing her emotions on court, something which she believes is quite different from her usual self off the court.

“I’m naturally like a positive person. On court just my style of the game, I play aggressive, so I’m more aggressive on court. But off court, yeah, I seem to be more positive,” she said.

Sabalenka further stated that she does not want to prove herself to anyone, and is only focused on people who like her. “I focus on things like what they saying about me, like on positive things. If people don’t like me or hate me, I kind of understand that, it’s okay, it’s their decision, their opinion. I don’t want to prove them that I’m a good person or bad person. I just focus on people who likes me,” she added.

Speaking about her stance on the ongoing war, Aryna Sabalenka stated that she wants to use her influence and platform to encourage young children in Belarus. The 2023 Australian Open champion believes that she can inspire people from smaller nations with a lack of resources to realize their dreams.

“I focus on things like what they saying about me, like on positive things. If people don’t like me or hate me, I kind of understand that, it’s okay, it’s their decision, their opinion. I don’t want to prove them that I’m a good person or bad person. I just focus on people who likes me,” she added.

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