Hatred against Aryna Sabalenka is unfair: what does she have to do with it?



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Hatred against Aryna Sabalenka is unfair: what does she have to do with it?
Hatred against Aryna Sabalenka is unfair: what does she have to do with it? (Provided by Tennis World USA)

Aryna Sabalenka is hated by some colleagues and not only, but they are bloody wrong. We fully condemn Russia's aggression towards Ukraine, we condemn war in all its forms. But it is not the fault of the Russian and Belarusian tennis players that Vladimir Putin has decided to attack the Ukraine.

What Russia has done is monstrous, but athletes like Aryna don't have to pay for faults that aren't theirs. A rather heavy outburst on the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which is also influencing her relationship with the entire WTA circuit and her colleagues.

Sabalenka returned to talk about the war in a press conference at the Internationals of Italy in Rome during Media Day. The words expressed will certainly cause discussion: "Those who hated us before, if only for the country we come from, still hate us.

This has not changed and I don't think it will change due to the current situation. I am happy that we are allowed to play, that the WTA is doing everything possible to handle this matter to the best of their ability. I stopped thinking about it and began to focus on myself, I understand that I did no harm to Ukraine, it's not my fault, it's not the fault of Russian and Belarusian athletes.

People expect something from us but we can't do anything, that's the sad thing about the situation."

Sabalenka happy to return to Italy

"I'm very happy to be here, it's one of my favorite tournaments. It's a beautiful city, so I'm happy and I hope I can do well in Rome," is the comment of the player native of Minsk, fresh winner of the Mutua Madrid Open.

The main rival on the red clay courts of the Foro Italico will be the Polish Iga Swiatek, on which he stated: "I'm doing everything I can to get close. I don't mean closer to Iga, but closer to my dream. I've been working very hard these past few months, I'm trying to focus on every match, every tournament, that's what I really want to achieve.

If all goes well, I can think of at best surpassing he," she added. And on a possible comparison with champion Serena Williams:" I don't know, I don't see it that way. I'm not thinking about that comparison or any other, I'm not focusing on those things.

I'm just focusing on getting better every day as a player. This comparison is a bit crazy, but it's nice to be really strong."

Aryna Sabalenka