By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday July 1, 2023

Aryna Sabalenka says she couldn’t watch Wimbledon last year. The Belarusian, a finalist in 2021, was forbidden to compete due to the All England Club’s decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players in light of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, which commenced in February of 2022.



When Sabalenka did catch glimpses of the most important grass court event in the world last year, all she could do was break down in tears.

“I didn't watch Wimbledon a lot,” she said. “I felt so bad and I just couldn't watch it. Every time if Wimbledon would be on TV, I would cry.”

Back in London in 2023, Sabalenka doesn’t want to think about last year anymore. Furthermore, after months of being subjected to journalists’ questions about her stance on the war in Ukraine, she’s putting the kibosh on all talk of politics.

The No.2 seed started her pre-tournament press conference by stating her case:

“Before we continue I would like to say I'm not going to talk about politics,” Sabalenka said. “I'm here to talk about tennis only. Please respect that. If you have any kind of political questions, you can ask WTA or the tournament. They can send you the transcript of my answers from the previous tournaments.”

Asked if her words reflected a personal decision, she said: “It's my personal decision.”

Sabalenka is trying to take control of a difficult situation that left her emotional and feeling unsafe at Roland-Garros. She was perpetually peppered by a Ukrainian journalist who wanted to know whether or not she was against her country’s involvement in the war.

Rather than face the press in those difficult moments, Sabalenka sought the help of the tournament and tour, and eventually was granted a reprieve. After two of her matches in Paris she talked to a tour representative and gave a transcript that was then distributed to the press.

Only tennis was discussed.

Many reporters scoffed at the move, due to the fact that the distributed quotes were initially labeled as a “press conference.”

After two missed press conferences, Sabalenka returned to the podium and gave reporters the definitive statement they wanted.

"I don't want my country to be in any conflict, I don't support the war," Sabalenka told reporters after her quarter-final victory over Ukraine's Elina Svitolina. "I don't support war, meaning I don't support (Belarusian President) Alexander Lukashenko right now."

She later elaborated on the stress she felt during the tournament.

"I really felt bad not coming here. I couldn't sleep. Like all those bad feelings was in my head, I couldn't fall asleep. I felt really bad not coming here," Sabalenka said. "I don't regret the decisions. I felt really disrespected, and I felt really bad. Grand Slam, it's enough pressure to handle, and I just tried to focus on myself, on my game.”