Tom Hamilton, Senior Writer
Close• Joined ESPN in 2011
• Covered two Olympics, a couple of Rugby World Cups and two British and Irish Lions tours
• Formerly rugby editor, became senior writer in 2018
World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka won’t be answering any questions about politics at Wimbledon this year.
Sabalenka, 25, who is from Belarus, has faced questions in previous tournaments about her country’s involvement in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In his pre-Wimbledon press conference on Saturday, he told the media that he has made the decision not to answer any questions about the war.
“Before I continue I would like to say that I will not talk about politics,” Sabalenka said. “I’m here to talk about tennis only. Please respect that. If you have any kind of political question, you can ask the WTA or the tournament. They can send you the transcript of my answers from previous tournaments.”
Asked later if she had been pressured to make that statement, Sabalenka replied: “It’s my personal decision.”
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Despite a run to the semi-finals of the French Open, Sabalenka had a turbulent time at Roland Garros.
After facing questions from a Ukrainian journalist about Belarus’s involvement in the invasion after the first and second round victories, he chose not to attend the third round press conference, saying he did not “she felt safe.”
Sabalenka then faced the media after her quarter-final win over Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina. At that press conference he was asked if he supported Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. Sabalenka replied: “It’s a difficult question. I don’t support war, that is, I don’t support Lukashenko right now.”
“I’ve said it many times, I’m not supporting war,” he said at that press conference. “I don’t want my country to get involved in any conflict. I’ve said that many times, and you know where I stand, you know. You have my position. You have my answer. I’ve answered it many times. I’m not supporting war”.
This followed his explanation of why he chose not to participate in press conferences after his third and fourth round wins. “I felt like a reporter trying to put words in my mouth. I didn’t feel comfortable. That’s how I felt.”
Sabalenka previously addressed the backlash she has received from other players at tournaments this season because of the war, saying in March that she faced “hate” in the locker room “for no reason.”
Sabalenka returns to Wimbledon after missing out on last year’s tournament as organizers banned players from Russia and Belarus. He said Saturday that he chose not to watch much of the 2022 tournament.
“I didn’t watch much of Wimbledon,” Sabalenka said. “I felt so bad and I couldn’t watch it. Every time Wimbledon was on TV I would cry, so … I decided to walk away from Wimbledon last year.”
