Aryna sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka has been on the end of a thrashing she usually reserves for on-court opponents as the tennis media and Ukrainian players demanded for months the 25-year-old Australian Open champion denounce the war in Ukraine. She has done so now, and in no uncertain terms — that decision and subsequent statement could come with serious repercussions for the Belarusian star. strongman President Alexander Lukashenko, a staunch ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. "I don't support the war," Sabalenka said Alexander Lukashenko maintains a tight relationship with Vladimir Putin, a pair who share similar views about dissent. ( Getty Images) The statement came after Sabalenka — who has dominated the WTA Tour this year with a 25-6 record and titles in Adelaide, Melbourne at the Australian Open and Madrid — dispatched Ukraine's Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-4 in Paris to book passage to a French Open semifinal showdown with Czech Karolina Muchova. Svitolina did not shake Sabalenka's hand as the Belarusian stared from across the net, but the world number two's post match press conference may have won her some respect — at a tremendous risk. Read more That risk is how Lukashenko reacts. The 68-year-old Belarusian leader maintains close ties with Putin, has been president since 1994, and has a long history of negatively dealing with dissidents. After Sabalenka won the Australian Open in January as a player with no flag, due to a 2022 ruling by the sport's governing bodies, Lukashenko t...

Watch Video: Everything you need to know about 2023 French Open Belarusian tennis star "I'm not supporting the war. I don't support war, meaning I don't support (Alexander) Lukashenko," Sabalenka Sabalenka previously stated that she wants to keep politics separate from sports amid Belarus' support of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But a Polish reporter asked Sabalenka on Tuesday about being photographed with Lukashenko. "We played a lot of Fed Cups in Belarus. (Lukashenko) was in our matches taking pictures with us after the match. Nothing bad was happening that time in Belarus or in Ukraine or in Russia," she said. Sabalenka continued: "I said it many times already, I don't support war. I don't want my country to be involved in any conflict. I said it many times and you know where I stand. I don't want sports to be involved in politics because I am just a tennis player... If I liked to be political then I wouldn't be here. I don't want to be involved in any politics." ARYNA SABALENKA Sabalenka's comments came days after she was peppered with questions about Lukashenko. Following her first-round win, a Ukrainian journalist asked Sabalenka how she could possibly support a dictator. Sabalenka said she had "no comments," but the journalist pressed on with his questions, prompting the moderator to step in and control the press conference. Sabalenka said she felt "disrespected" and felt "the journalist tried to put the words in my mouth." The World No. 2 subsequently skipped pre...

Sabalenka at the Full name Aryna Siarhiejeŭna Sabalenka Native name Арына Сяргееўна Сабаленка Country (sports) Residence Born ( 1998-05-05) 5 May 1998 (age 25) Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11 in) Turned pro 2015 Plays Right-handed (two-handed backhand) Coach Prize money US$17,105,373 • Official website .com Singles Career record 339–166 (67.1%) Career titles 13 Highest ranking No. 2 (23 August 2021) Current ranking No. 2 (30 January 2023) Grand Slam singles results W ( SF ( SF ( SF ( Other tournaments F ( 2R ( Doubles Career record 90–67 (57.3%) Career titles 6 Highest ranking 1 (22 February 2021) Current ranking No. 390 (12 June 2023) Grand Slam doubles results W ( SF ( QF ( W ( Other doubles tournaments RR ( Grand Slam mixed doubles results 2R ( Team competitions F ( Last updated on: 12 June 2023. Sabalenka was relatively unknown until 2017 when she led the Sabalenka has a very aggressive style of play, often accumulating high numbers of winners and unforced errors. With her height, she also has a very powerful serve. Contents • 1 Early life and background • 2 Junior career • 3 Professional career • 3.1 2012–2016: Top 200, Fed Cup debut • 3.2 2017: Fed Cup heroics, WTA 125 title, top 100 • 3.3 2018: Newcomer of the Year, Premier 5 title • 3.4 2019: Top 10 debut in singles, world No. 2 in doubles • 3.4.1 Singles: Elite Trophy, three titles in China in total • 3.4.2 Doubles: US Open champion, Sunshine Double • 3.5 2020: Three WTA titles, year-end top 10 • 3.6 2021: World No. 1 in d...