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Home Tennis French Open

“Shouldn’t she be fined?” – Aryna Sabalenka skipping press conference has drawn her comparisons to Naomi Osaka getting bashed for the same

Sabalenka is being slammed by the media and the netizens on the internet for deciding to skip on press conferences.

by Siddid Dey Purkayastha
June 5, 2023 / 15:10 GMT
Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka

L-Aryna Sabalenka R-Naomi Osaka (Credits: Public Domain)

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The media is continuously bashing Aryna Sabalenka for her links to the Belarusian and Russian administrations. The French and Ukrainian media are harassing the World No. 2 on political questions over Russia’s war and occupation of Ukraine. She claims that these incidents are drastically impacting her mental health, thus asking the authorities for special arrangements to be made.

In her recent third-round win over Kamila Rakhimova (6-2,6-2), Sabalenka decided to skip the scheduled press conference, thus igniting a new controversy amongst the media. Many have drawn comparisons of her to Naomi Osaka and asked for a fine to be levied for skipping press conferences.

There have been several instances, notably in 2021, when Naomi Osaka refused to talk to journalists during the Roland Garros tournament, citing mental health concerns. Several fans on Twitter have reacted to Sabalenka’s and WTA’s resolve on this issue, drawing her comparison to the similar situations faced by Naomi Osaka.

Related: Aryna Sabalenka thanks Roland Garros organizers for special arrangements after she didn’t feel “safe” for being asked to “personally” condemn war

Media and netizens are grilling Aryna Sabalenka for not attending press conference

Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka (Credits: BBC)

For Aryna Sabalenka, being grilled with political questions is a stressful matter. The Belarusian tennis star has high aspirations and hopes of winning the French Open 2023. However, seems like the media have not failed to grill her with political questions about the Ukraine war and her relationship with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

Things started boiling over the tipping point after her first-round win over Marta Kostyuk. Kostyuk, a Ukrainian, refused to shake hands with the Belarusian. The reporters grilled her with questions that had a profound impact on her. One reporter asked whether she tried to twist the situation to portray towards Kostyuk’s nature of hating her.

After several such instances, she announced, “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 the press conference. I should be able to feel safe when I do interviews with the journalists after my matches.”

A similar instance followed for Naomi Osaka as well. During the 2021 Roland Garros, the then-21-year-old Osaka decided to call quits on a press conference, resulting in her being fined. Reacting to the same, she said, “If organizations think they can keep saying, ‘do press or you’re going to get fined,’ and continue to ignore the mental health of the athletes that are the centerpiece of their cooperation, then I just gotta laugh.”

Here are some of the reactions flowing in for Aryna Sabalenka not attending the press conference.

Shouldn't she be fined? Osaka was.

— Mateusz Baran (@SeniorSiarrrra) June 4, 2023

pic.twitter.com/0suFkpBMGS

— Radek Vratný 🇺🇦 🏳️‍🌈 (@just_bored_owl) June 4, 2023

Unacceptable. Naomi was threatened by authorities, but Aryna can do as she likes? Hopefully Iga crushes her in the final.

— ᴅᴀʟᴇ (@DaleKerr) June 5, 2023

Are all of the Russian and Belarusian players allowed to skip their press conferences, or just her?

— Amerita (@Amerita) June 4, 2023

She should be fined. Naomi was. I don't see a reason Sabalenka shouldn't be.

— JB ⚓ (@J_R_BS) June 4, 2023

How long will Aryna Sabalinka be allowed to not fulfil her tournament obligations without penalty? How is it she is ok with stepping onto the court to play matches?
Sorry, but something is just not adding up?

— dc0531 (@dougwc1) June 4, 2023

She is the most hypocritical and overall disgusting person on both tours. I can’t believe she is still allowed to play tennis. Especially with the ridiculous grunting that lasts half a minute. A serial cheater and a disgrace.

— Roger Traderer (@rounick28) June 4, 2023

Why? Naomi Osaka was given $ 15 k for the very same thing at Rolland Garros. Double standards?

— Tomasz Stanislawski (@t_stanislawski) June 5, 2023

Is it not safe? What is not safe about asking questions?

— Chris Brown (@chrisbrown22111) June 4, 2023

As a resolute to this issue, Aryna Sabalenka has been allowed by the WTA to do a special interview with a WTA-approved editorial reporter. The transcripts of that interview will soon be made available to the press.

In case you missed it:

  • “Hypocrisy is huge in the UK” – Mirra Andreeva and Aryna Sabalenka’s visa situation for Wimbledon participation sees fans lambasting British officials
  • Aryna Sabalenka’s picture depicting her closeness with Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko goes viral amid recent political turmoil at the French Open
Tags: Aryna SabalenkaFrench Open 2023Naomi Osaka
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Siddid Dey Purkayastha

Siddid Dey Purkayastha

Siddid Dey Purkayastha is a US Sports writer and editor for First Sportz. I have previously worked as an Esports writer with Essentially Sports and FanSpace. I love everything sports, and it brings me delight to translate my love for the field into words. I am currently also pursuing my MA in International Studies and spend time reading books when not working.

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