Aryna Sabalenka, who qualified for the final of the Indian Wells 1,000-category tournament yesterday, has spoken out clearly about the problems in the women’s locker room between the Russian and Belarusian players with respect to the Ukrainian players.
“I think the WTA is doing everything it can to control the situation, but there is clearly tension between us. I still believe that I have not done anything to the Ukrainians and neither have the Russian and Belarusian athletes. Some of us, like me, are even helping, albeit privately,” said the 24-year-old Minsk native and world no.2.
Regarding the refusal of the Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko to take the court to play the second round of the tournament with Sabalenka, the Belarusian is clear that “it must have been her coach. I had a problem with him last year and I’m sure he put pressure on her not to play”.
Nikita Vlasov, Tsurenko‘s coach, also gave his side: “How can you be calm when you play with a Belarusian who supports the war? Every day we wake up reading about how many people have died in Ukraine. One of Lesia’s best friends has been held by the Russians for six months.”
The player from Minsk is regarded with suspicion because of her close relationship with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, who has shown his unconditional support for Vladimir Putin since the first day of the conflict.
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News Summary:
- Tennis: Sabalenka acknowledges the tension with the Ukrainian players: There is tension, but I did not do anything to them
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