Belarusian star opts out of French Open press convention, saying she ‘didn’t really feel secure’ ultimately press convention | CNN

CNN
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World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka didn’t take part in a customary post-match press convention after her third-round win on the French Open on Friday, saying she didn’t really feel secure when taking part in a press convention held earlier this week.

On Wednesday, after successful within the second spherical of the match, the Belarusian had been repeatedly requested in a press convention to touch upon the warfare in Ukraine and Belarus’ position, however she repeatedly declined to take action. This continued till the moderator halted the road of questioning.

“After my match I spoke with the media like I usually do,” Sabalenka mentioned Friday. “I do know they nonetheless anticipate some questions which can be extra in regards to the politics and never a lot about my tennis.

“For a lot of months now I’ve answered these questions at tournaments and been very clear in my emotions and my ideas.

“These questions don’t trouble me after my matches. I do know that I’ve to supply solutions to the media on issues not associated to my tennis or my matches, however on Wednesday I didn’t really feel secure in press convention.

“I ought to be capable of really feel secure after I do interviews with the journalists after my matches. For my very own psychological well being and well-being, I’ve determined to take myself out of this example as we speak, and the match has supported me on this choice.

“It hasn’t been a straightforward few days, and now my focus is proceed to play properly right here in Paris.”

As an alternative of doing a press convention Friday, Sabalenka’s feedback are from an interview launched by match organizers at Roland Garros in Paris, based on Reuters. Usually, press conferences by gamers are required.

Reuters additionally reported that French Open organizers mentioned that they wish to “shield” Sabalenka and that whether or not she attends different post-match press conferences shall be her choice.

CNN has reached out to the French Tennis Federation, the organizers of the French Open, for remark.

In 2021, Naomi Osaka of Japan sparked headlines and debate when she had introduced she wouldn’t take part in press conferences through the French Open, citing her psychological well being. She later withdrew through the match, earlier than her second-round match.

Sabalenka has already fielded some tough questions in press conferences at Roland Garros, together with from one reporter who accused her of “twisting it as if Ukrainians hate you” and “avoiding” questions asking her to sentence the warfare, with Belarus getting used as a key staging floor for Russia’s warfare in Ukraine.

Sabalenka mentioned in March that she struggled to grasp the “hate” she encountered within the locker room amid strained relations between some gamers following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“In regards to the warfare scenario, I mentioned it many, many occasions, no one on this world – Russian athletes, Belarusian athletes – helps the warfare. No one. How can we assist the warfare? Regular folks won’t ever assist it,” she mentioned.

Russian and Belarusian gamers are presently nonetheless competing on the excursions as impartial athletes with out their flag or nation displayed.