Belarusian tennis player still avoids condemning her country’s aggression
Belarusian tennis player Victoria Azarenko said she wanted to take part in the Tennis Plays for Peace charity event before the start US Open. However, the organizers did not accept it because of the protests of Ukrainian athletes.
“I feel like I had a very clear message from the beginning that I was here to try and help, which I did a lot. Maybe that’s not what people see.”
“I thought that such a gesture would show commitment. I don’t know why it was perceived differently.”
After the match of the second round of the US Open Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk refused to shake hands with Azarenka. Marta noticed that she did not know a single player from Russia or Belarus who would publicly condemn the war and the actions of their government.
“If Marta wants to talk to me, I am open at any time to listen, try to understand, sympathize. I think empathy is really important at a time like this, which, again, was my clear message,” Azarenka said.
Kostyuk lost to Azarenka in straight sets in the second round. In the next match, the tennis player from Belarus will play with Petra Martic from Croatia.
Recall that Serena Williams was eliminated in the third round of the American Major. The fight against Ayla Tomljanovich from Australia was the last in the career of the 23-time Grand Slam winner.
Source: Sportarena
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