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.



Esports World Cup 2025 Kicks Off in Riyadh

The seven-week global event transforms Riyadh into a dynamic hub of gaming and culture, drawing entertainment enthusiasts from around the world. SPA
The seven-week global event transforms Riyadh into a dynamic hub of gaming and culture, drawing entertainment enthusiasts from around the world. SPA
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Esports World Cup 2025 Kicks Off in Riyadh

The seven-week global event transforms Riyadh into a dynamic hub of gaming and culture, drawing entertainment enthusiasts from around the world. SPA
The seven-week global event transforms Riyadh into a dynamic hub of gaming and culture, drawing entertainment enthusiasts from around the world. SPA

Esports World Cup 2025 has officially launched in Riyadh. The seven-week global event transforms the capital into a dynamic hub of gaming, culture, art, and community, drawing entertainment enthusiasts from around the world.

Held at Boulevard Riyadh City, the festival offers a variety of innovative experiences across multiple zones. Highlights include the Aramco SIM Arena, featuring advanced car racing simulations; the stc Arena and Amazon Arena, which host community competitions; a Content Creator Park for influencers; a main stage for family-friendly entertainment; and themed areas such as the Jameel Motorsport Park and the Japanese Garden.

The festival runs alongside Esports World Cup 2025 competitions, attracting global esports fans to Riyadh. Building on the success of the inaugural 2024 event, this year’s tournament features intense preparations and will showcase top-tier competitions in games such as VALORANT, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, and Apex Legends. The event continues the Club Championship format, which awards clubs based on multi-title performance to crown the world’s top esports organization.

Esports World Cup 2025 brings together elite players and teams from across the globe to compete for a record-breaking prize pool exceeding $70 million, the largest in esports history.

Over 2,000 professional players representing 200 premier clubs from more than 100 countries will participate in 25 tournaments covering 24 esports titles, all broadcast under extensive global media coverage.