Why Belarusian world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka should not be held responsible for the actions of two dictators
At the time, Sabalenka was under pressure from other Ukrainian players and the media to condemn the Russian invasion and the Belarusian leader. I had a feeling he was being slow in doing this.
Given that Lukashenko has a history of dealing harshly with anyone who speaks out against his regime, it would be understandable if Sabalenka was equally under pressure to keep any concerns to herself.
After the Oliynykova match.Credit: EddieJim
He withdrew from public view at Roland-Garros in 2023 after his views on the occupation were constantly questioned.
“I know I have to respond to the media on matters unrelated to my tennis or matches, but on Wednesday [after winning in the second round] I did not feel safe at the press conference,” Sabalenka said at the time.
“I should be able to feel safe interviewing journalists after my matches.”
Thanks to Oliynykova’s stance highlighting Sabalenka, the world No. 1 once again answered questions about her views on the war and replied that she was simply “for peace.”
What the Ukrainian really wants to say is that all Russian and Belarusian players should be banned from the sport due to their country of origin; that even if they do not compete under their own national flag, their presence on the world stage makes it easier for their leaders to appropriate their success as part of their propaganda machine.
Wimbledon introduced such a ban in 2022 but lifted it the following year on the condition that players do not receive support or funding from their own government.
Once again, it’s no surprise that Oliynykova took personal offense when she saw Russian and Belarusian players showing off on the pitch and on Instagram while her country was in ruins. Whether they should be held accountable for their governments’ decisions is another matter.
There are many Russian-born and bred players at the Australian Open who have left their homeland.
Aryna Sabalenka wears sports sunglasses during one of the post-match press conferences.Credit: George Salpigtidis/Tennis Australia
New Australian citizen Daria Kasatkina fled partly because, as a gay woman opposed to the war, she could not live safely in Russia. But do we really think that the majority of tennis players who change their allegiances do so for moral reasons?
Long before the invasion of Ukraine, the former Soviet state of Kazakhstan had embarked on an aggressive recruitment campaign that the AFP news agency dubbed “hiring Russians”. Elena Rybakina, who won Wimbledon in 2022 when Russian and Belarusian players were banned, and world No. 10 Alexander Bublik are among those who announced they changed their passports due to extra financial support from oil-rich Kazakhstan.
Loading
Oliynykova is not the only Ukrainian to make a political statement; Elina Svitolina didn’t shake Russian child prodigy Mirra Andreeva’s hand on Sunday night, and Andreeva wasn’t expecting her to.
But as Sabalenka said AgeThe ban Marc McGowan received before winning his first Australian Open does little beyond punishing players for the actions of their leaders.
“No one supports the war – no one,” he said. “The problem is that we need to talk loudly about this… but why should we shout about it in every corner? It won’t do any good. We have zero control in this situation.”
Read more about the Australian Open:
