French Open 2023: Aryna Sabalenka ‘does not support’ Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko

Aryna Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion of this year

Aryna Sabalenka, a Belarusian tennis professional, recently expressed her lack of support for her home country’s president, Alexander Lukashenko, due to his endorsement of Russia’s ongoing military conflict in Ukraine.

Previously, she had stated that “no athlete” was in favor of the war. Still, this marks the first occasion on which she has explicitly criticized Lukashenko.

Sabalenka, who had chosen not to participate in press conferences at the French Open since last Friday to protect her mental health amid a barrage of political inquiries, resumed her customary media interactions following her advancement to the semi-finals.

“I oppose war. I currently do not endorse Lukashenko,” the 25-year-old athlete announced after her 6-4, 6-4 victory over Ukrainian player Elina Svitolina, who faced disapproval from the French audience for declining to shake Sabalenka’s hand after a charged match.

Sabalenka’s gesture of waiting at the net instigated more jeers – Svitolina

Lukashenko maintains a strong alliance with Russian president Vladimir Putin and has offered military aid in the Ukraine invasion.

Sabalenka, who has the opportunity to become the world’s top-ranked female tennis player at the French Open, is among Belarus’ most prominent athletes.

Since the commencement of the war in February 2022, there has been growing pressure on her to publicly distance herself from the Belarusian leader.

After a first-round match, Ukrainian player Marta Kostyuk reproached Sabalenka for never personally stating her disapproval of the war.

Sabalenka has previously met Lukashenko several times and was seen with him at a New Year’s Eve event in 2020.

In 2020, widespread protests broke out in the eastern European nation after Lukashenko claimed a disputed victory in an election believed to be fraudulent.

Opposition activists leveled accusations against the police of employing brutal tactics, such as physical assaults on protestors, use of water cannons, and stun grenades, while contesting the presidential election.

After Sabalenka, originally from Minsk, clinched her first major title at the Australian Open in January, Lukashenko extended his congratulations and was seen publicly celebrating her victory in an online video.

He later asserted that, even when competing under a neutral flag, people were aware of her country of origin.

“I have repeatedly clarified that I do not endorse war. I don’t want my country implicated in any conflict,” she stated on Tuesday.

“I’ve made my stand clear many times, and you are well aware of it. You have my stance, my response. I have addressed this issue multiple times. I do not endorse the war.

“I don’t want sports to get entangled in politics, because I’m just a 25-year-old tennis player.

“If I wanted to engage in politics, I wouldn’t be here. I have no desire to get involved in politics. I solely wish to be a tennis player.”

Sabalenka made these remarks in her first open press conference since last Wednesday, having avoided them after her prior two matches for her “personal mental health and well-being”.

A Ukrainian reporter had questioned her about her support for Lukashenko, and after declining to respond, she later stated that she did not feel secure during Wednesday’s press conference.

“I felt as though my press conference had turned into a political TV show, and I’m not a political expert. I’m just a tennis player,” Sabalenka remarked.

“I had a few days to disconnect from the press conference, a few days to regain my composure, a few days to gain some clarity on certain matters.

“That’s why I feel more secure now. And no one is forcing words upon me, which is another contributing factor.”

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