Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka did not speak to journalists at the French Open for the second time in a row. The organizers announced late on Sunday evening that there would be no press conference with the Australian Open winner after her entry into the quarterfinals of the classic clay court in Paris. Reasons for this were not given in the notification.

Instead, a reporter from the women’s tennis organization WTA should speak to Sabalenka. The 25-year-old had previously defeated the American Sloane Stephens 7: 6 (7: 5), 6: 4.

War in Ukraine also topic at French Open

After several critical questions about her position on the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, Sabalenka did not give the usual press conference after the game in the third round, in agreement with the tournament organizer. “For my own mental health and well-being, I decided to pull myself out of this situation today and the tournament supported me in that decision,” Sabalenka was quoted as saying in a written transcript the organizers made available to accredited journalists.

At the previous press conferences in Paris, Sabalenka had been asked, among other things, about her message on the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine and on the Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko. Among other things, she said that she would end the war if she could.

The Russian war of aggression is always in focus at the French Open. Ukrainian players do not shake hands with their opponents from Russia and Belarus after the games and do not pose for photos together. >