The second racket of the world, Aryna Sabalenko, is still met with hostility in the locker room and it is claimed that she had strange conversations with members of the sports staff of Ukraine.

Aryna SabalenkoPhoto: Thomas COEX / AFP / Profimedia

>> War in Ukraine, day 441. All events of Wednesday, May 10 – LiveText on HotNews.ro.

Aryna Sabalenko does not feel guilty, because she “didn’t do anything bad to Ukrainians”

The champion of Madrid, an athlete from Belarus, says that she has no influence on the political situation and that it is unfair to be condemned for the actions of her country’s leaders. Arina can play in the WTA tournament, but under a neutral flag.

“Those who used to hate us because of where we come from still hate us. The situation in the locker room has not changed and I don’t think it will change because of the war.

I am happy that we were allowed to play, that the WTA is doing everything possible to deal with this situation as best as possible. But that’s all.

The only thing that changes for me is that I don’t think about it anymore, I just start focusing on myself and understand that I didn’t do anything bad to Ukrainians.

I am only now beginning to understand that it is not my fault, it is not the fault of players from Russia or athletes from Belarus. We are just athletes…

Unfortunately, we have no control over this situation. People expect something from us, but we can’t do anything” – Aryna Sabalenko at a press conference in Rome.

>> Aryna Sabalenko, statements about the war in Ukraine and accusations against Lukashenka

Aryna Sabalenko (2nd seed) goes directly to the second round of the “WTA 1000” tournament in Rome and will meet the American Sofia Kenin (134 WTA, champion of the Australian Open 2020).

WTA Rome takes place from May 9 to 20 on the clay in the Foro Italico complex. His total prize money is $3,572,618 and is in the “WTA 1000” category. Iga Svyatek became the champion of the last two competitions.

>> Aryna Sabalenko reacted to the fact that Lukashenko set her as an example

>> Aryna Sabalenko and the message received after she spoke about the hatred directed at her in the WTA locker room​