cnn
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World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka did not participate in the usual post-match press conference after her French Open third round victory on Friday, saying she did not feel safe participating in a press conference held earlier this week.
On Wednesday, after winning in the second round of the tournament, the Belarusian was repeatedly asked at a press conference to comment on the war in Ukraine and the role of Belarus, but she repeatedly refused to do so. This continued until the moderator stopped the line of questioning.
“After my match I spoke to the media like I normally do,” Sabalenka said Friday. “I know they are still waiting for some questions that have more to do with politics and not so much with my tennis.
“For many months I have answered these questions at tournaments and have been very clear in my feelings and thoughts.
“These questions don't bother me after my games. I know I have to give answers to the media about things that have nothing to do with my tennis or my matches, but on Wednesday I didn't feel safe at the press conference.
“I should be able to feel confident when interviewing journalists after my games. For my own mental health and well-being, I have decided to get out of this situation today and the tournament has supported me in this decision.
“It hasn't been an easy few days and now my goal is to continue playing well here in Paris.”
Instead of giving a press conference on Friday, Sabalenka's comments come from an interview published by the organizers of the Roland Garros tournament in Paris, according to Reuters. Player press conferences are usually required.
Reuters also reported that French Open organizers said they wanted to “protect” Sabalenka and that whether she attends further post-match press conferences will be her decision.
CNN has contacted the French Tennis Federation, the organizers of the French Open, for comment.
In 2021, Naomi Osaka of Japan generated headlines and debate when she announced that she would not participate in press conferences during the French Open, citing her mental health. She later retired during the tournament, before her second round match.
Sabalenka has already fielded some tough questions at press conferences at Roland Garros, including from a journalist who accused her of “twisting things as if Ukrainians hate you” and “avoiding” questions asking her to condemn the war, using Belarus as a key. scene of Russia's war in Ukraine.
Sabalenka said in March that she had trouble understanding the “hatred” she encountered in the locker room amid tense relations between some players following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“About the war situation, I said many, many times, no one in this world – Russian athletes, Belarusian athletes – supports war. Nobody. How can we support the war? Normal people will never support it,” he stated.
Russian and Belarusian players currently continue to compete on circuits as neutral athletes without showing their flag or country.
