Oleksandra Oliynykova slams Aryna Sabalenka over past support for Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, world No. 1 says she wants peace in Ukraine
“I have spoken a lot about that before, obviously. I want peace, and if I could change anything, I would definitely do that,” she said.
“Other than that, I have nothing else to say.”
Asked if it was appropriate that she was called out individually by a rival player, she politely declined to respond.
Aryna Sabalenka wearing Gucci sunglasses in her press conference on Friday after announcing her collaboration with the fashion brand.Credit: George Salpigtidis / Tennis Australia
“Listen, I’m here for tennis. It’s a tennis event, I’ve said enough in the past and I don’t want to talk politics,” she said.
Oliynykova lost to reigning champion Madison Keys in the first round of the Australian Open on Tuesday. She wore a T-shirt after her match drawing attention to her campaign to raise funds to fight the war in Ukraine.
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“I think it’s very wrong that they are not disqualified in tennis like in other sports,” Oliynykova told this masthead.
“Because I know that here is the picture that we are, like all tennis girls playing, but the people don’t see the things behind it.
“And this is, you know, the people with money and power, and they are using this to support aggression against my country.
The Women’s Tennis Association and Aryna Sabalenka have been contacted for comment.
More to come
