| Venue: Roland Garros, Paris Dates: 28 Might-11 June |
| Protection: Reside textual content and radio commentaries of chosen matches throughout BBC Radio 5 Sports activities Additional, the BBC Sport web site and app |
Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka says she “can not do something” if Ukrainian opponent Marta Kostyuk “hates” her due to her nation’s assist of Russia’s invasion.
World quantity two Sabalenka expects Kostyuk to not shake arms after their French Open first-round match.
Belarus is an ally of Russia and allowed troops to make use of its territory to launch final yr’s invasion of Ukraine.
“In the event that they really feel good not shaking arms, I am proud of that,” mentioned Sabalenka.
The 25-year-old Sabalenka is aiming to say back-to-back Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros after profitable the primary main of her profession on the Australian Open in January.
The Belarusian additionally has the chance to turn into WTA world primary for the primary time, overtaking Poland’s Iga Swiatek on the high of the rankings.
Sabalenka has beforehand mentioned “no-one helps warfare” and reiterated in Paris on Friday she would cease it if she may.
Kostyuk, 20, refused to shake hands with Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka eventually yr’s US Open and in addition mentioned seeing Russian flags being waved by supporters of Vladimir Putin at the Australian Open in January “harm so much”.
Requested about Kostyuk’s response once they play within the first spherical on Sunday, Sabalenka added: “I do not need to waste my power on this sort of stuff.
“It is none of my enterprise, . If she hates me, OK. I am unable to do something about that.
“There are going to be individuals who love me, there are going to be individuals who hate me. If she hates me, I do not really feel something like that to her.
“I type of perceive why they aren’t shaking arms. On the identical time, I really feel like sports activities should not be in politics, we’re simply athletes.”
