Aryna Sabalenka breaks silence after rival called for her to be banned | Tennis | Sport

Aryna Sabalenka has responded after Ukrainian star Oleksandra Oliynykova called for the world No. 1 to be kicked off the professional tennis tour. Oliynykova made her Grand Slam debut against Madison Keys at the Australian Open, pushing the defending champion in a tight first set before losing 7-6(6) 6-1.

Afterwards, the world No. 92 attended her press conference wearing a t-shirt which read: “I need your help to protect Ukrainian women and children but I can’t talk about it here.” Oliynykova hails from Kyiv and revealed there had just been an explosion near her home, which left her apartment “shaking”.

Players cannot use competition venues to make political statements, and the 25-year-old told reporters: “I would like to share the way people can help Ukrainians, but we will need – if you want to ask me about this, we will need to do it outside of the tournament press. It’s very important part.”

Oliynykova later opened up, telling Australian publication The Age that Russian and Belarusian players should be banned from competing in tennis altogether.

“It’s very wrong that they are not disqualified in tennis like in other sports. I know that here is the picture that we are all tennis girls playing, but the people don’t see the things behind it,” she said.

The world No. 92 also singled out four-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka, following claims that she signed a letter of support for Belarusian president Aleksandr Lukashenko in 2020. Two years later, Lukashenko and the Belarusian military aided Vladimir Putin and Russia with their invasion of Ukraine.

In 2023, Sabalenka said she did not support the war in Ukraine or Lukashenko. And the No. 1 seed in Melbourne reiterated her views when informed of Oliynykova’s recent comments.

“I have spoken a lot about that before, obviously. I want peace, and if I could change anything, I would definitely do that. Other than that, I have nothing else to say,” Sabalenka said after reaching the third round.

Asked whether she thought it was fair that Oliynykova called her out personally, the two-time former Australian Open champion added: “Listen, I’m here for tennis. It’s a tennis event. I have said enough in the past and just don’t want to talk politics here. Thank you.”