Dayana Yastremska has admitted that many will not like her answers if she discusses her feelings about playing Belarusian and Russian players.
The Ukrainian had never been to the quarterfinal of a Grand Slam before this year's Australian Open. In fact, she had lost her previous seven Grand Slam main draw contests heading into the opening Grand Slam of the year.
That has all changed for the 23-year-old. Yastremska beat two-time champion in Melbourne, Victoria Azarenka, to reach the quarterfinal. It gave Ukrainian fans a positive on the same day that Elina Svitolina sadly retired from her fourth-round match.
However, many were focused on another issue. Azarenka is from Belarus, and the leader and government of that country have supported Russia in their war against Ukraine. This has led to Ukrainian players refusing to shake hands with Russian or Belarusian players.
The issue of Russian and Belarusian athletes has caused controversy. They have competed under a neutral banner on the ATP and WTA Tours, while the Olympics recently lifted their ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes.
Yastremska was asked in her press conference whether competing against Russian and Belarusian players gives her extra motivation, and she admitted that her answers would not be ones many would like to hear.
"Playing against the Belarusian player? If I'm going to start talking about it, I think you're not going to like my answers so I'm just gonna say I want to skip this question."
Yastremska then said she did not feel it was a good way to ask the question because the journalist should know how it is for Ukrainians to play against Russians and Belarusians.
"Because I think, like, if you're asking this question, I'm sure you know how it is for us, Ukrainians to play against Russians and Belarusians. I'm sure you know, so I don't think it's a good way to ask about this question."
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