Belarusian Sabalenka Says Lukashenko’s Comments ‘Not Helping’

Tennis - WTA 500 - Stuttgart Open - Porsche Arena, Stuttgart, Germany - April 18, 2023 Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka during a press conference. (Reuters)
Tennis - WTA 500 - Stuttgart Open - Porsche Arena, Stuttgart, Germany - April 18, 2023 Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka during a press conference. (Reuters)
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Belarusian Sabalenka Says Lukashenko’s Comments ‘Not Helping’

Tennis - WTA 500 - Stuttgart Open - Porsche Arena, Stuttgart, Germany - April 18, 2023 Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka during a press conference. (Reuters)
Tennis - WTA 500 - Stuttgart Open - Porsche Arena, Stuttgart, Germany - April 18, 2023 Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka during a press conference. (Reuters)

Aryna Sabalenka said she cannot control what Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko says about her and that while his comments may make her even more unpopular on the women's Tour she would "stop the war" in Ukraine if she could.

The world number two spoke last month about the "hate" she encountered in the locker room amid strained relations between some players following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which was supported by its ally Belarus.

Lukashenko celebrated Sabalenka's Australian Open victory in January and said more recently that people knew which country she hailed from even if she was playing under a neutral flag.

In March 2022, tennis's governing bodies barred players from Russia and Belarus from competing under the name or flag of either country following the war, requiring them to play under neutral flags.

"I'm pretty sure that it's not helping," Sabalenka told reporters in Stuttgart on Tuesday when asked about Lukashenko's comments. "I don't know what to say because he can comment (on) my game, he can comment whatever he wants to.

"I have nothing to do with politics ... If Ukrainians will hate me more after his speech, then what can I do? If they feel better by hating me, I'm happy to help them with that. They can do that.

"But the rest, if I could stop the war, I would do that, but unfortunately it's not in my hands and it's not under my control."

The 24-year-old said she kept away from the internet as much as possible to avoid reading negative comments.

"I'll be able to focus on myself and on my game and not get too depressed about this situation," she added.

Sabalenka is playing at the Stuttgart Open this week after withdrawing from the Charleston Open with a minor injury. She will face Barbora Krejcikova in the second round of the claycourt event after receiving a bye in the opener.



Haaland Hurts Ankle in Man City's Win in FA Cup

30 March 2025, United Kingdom, Bournemouth: Manchester City's Erling Haaland (R) celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the English FA Cup quarter final soccer match between AFC Bournemouth and Manchester City at the Vitality Stadium. Photo: Adam Davy/PA Wire/dpa
30 March 2025, United Kingdom, Bournemouth: Manchester City's Erling Haaland (R) celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the English FA Cup quarter final soccer match between AFC Bournemouth and Manchester City at the Vitality Stadium. Photo: Adam Davy/PA Wire/dpa
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Haaland Hurts Ankle in Man City's Win in FA Cup

30 March 2025, United Kingdom, Bournemouth: Manchester City's Erling Haaland (R) celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the English FA Cup quarter final soccer match between AFC Bournemouth and Manchester City at the Vitality Stadium. Photo: Adam Davy/PA Wire/dpa
30 March 2025, United Kingdom, Bournemouth: Manchester City's Erling Haaland (R) celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the English FA Cup quarter final soccer match between AFC Bournemouth and Manchester City at the Vitality Stadium. Photo: Adam Davy/PA Wire/dpa

Erling Haaland was substituted with an ankle injury in the 60th minute of Manchester City's FA Cup quarterfinal match against Bournemouth on Sunday.
The Norway striker hurt his left ankle after Bournemouth right back Lewis Cook landed awkwardly on him in a 56th-minute tackle.
Haaland received treatment, came back on, but soon fell to the ground in pain and had to be substituted, The Associated Press reported.
Man City manager Pep Guardiola was unsure about the severity of Haaland's injury, saying: “I don’t know yet, we’ll have to see.”
The score was 1-1 when Haaland went off, having scored City's equalizer after having a penalty saved in the first half.
City went on to win 2-1 and advance to the semifinals for a seventh straight season.